What is your role at My Therapy House?
I’m a Play Therapist! That means I use carefully selected toys and specific therapeutic skills to support children to explore their emotional world, and work through tricky situations and experiences (such as grief and loss, divorce, trauma, family conflicts, bullying, anxiety and depression).
As part of the multidisciplinary team at My Therapy House, my focus is also on supporting our clients’ physical, social, and emotional development.
How long have you been working at My Therapy House?
Since November 2023, when I popped into the inbox offering play therapy support. After meeting with Dana (who said “I have a good feeling about this!”) I came back the next day for a shadow shift, fell in love with the team and their holistic child-centred approach, and that was that!
Why did you choose to work at My Therapy House?
It was an easy choice. From the dynamic yet homey environment to the incredibly supportive and authentic professionals I could work beside and learn from, I instantly knew it was the place for me.
Since closing the chapter on my communications career and qualifying as a Play Therapist (much to the delight of my inner child), I was searching for some friendly folks to take me under their wing. I was already working in private practice and was craving company!
I consider myself incredibly blessed to have landed in this special space, where we play every day to support children and their families.
What is your favourite thing about working at My Therapy House?
It’s when a child rushes into the playroom with unbounded curiosity, the outside world dissolves, and we are welcomed into their own world where discovery, development, and delight reside and thrive. It’s a truly magical moment, and one that makes it very easy to get out of bed in the morning!
What were your favourite play activities when you were a child?
Painting, singing, and doing drama were my go-to creative outlets. And while I had friends with whom I would explore outdoors, I mostly loved to play alone. From pretending I was a horse galloping up the driveway, to playing with Syllvanians in my dollhouse, and teaching my imaginary class with my whiteboard, typed-up worksheets and marking stamps, play was an escape from what was a difficult time as a neurodivergent kid in a tough school environment. It was where I developed my superpowers and found the courage to face an often-overwhelming world.
What is your favourite thing to do when you are not working?
As an ADHDer, I have MANY favourite things! My most favourite thing is trying out a new thing that I am absolutely 100% sure will become my most favourite thing, only to get bored the next week and move on to the next potentially-favourite thing. Skateboarding, novel
writing, paddleboarding, veggie garden-growing, watercolour painting, calligraphy, making macrame plant pots…I’ve tried (and ditched) them all.
But the things I truly treasure each day are spending time with my Greek husband and our two delightful Ragdoll cats, hiking in the Hills or nearby national park, studying (right now it’s psychology), having brunch or checking out art exhibitions with friends, and researching a potentially new favourite hobby.
What is your favourite food?
Before moving back to Australia, I travelled alone around the world as a writer for three years and sampled so many incredible local foods. But there’s just one I could eat all day, every day and that’s South-East Asian cuisine. I also love my husband’s home-cooked Greek fare.
What is your favourite saying?
The fun thing about my particular type of neuro-spiciness is that I can never remember my favourite sayings. So here’s one I took from the Internet that feels fitting: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” — Helen Keller
What photo are you sharing?
Taken during my first week at kindy, I often turn to this photo as a reminder to let my inner child paint and play. This is her happy place:
Fast-forward to June 2022 and my other happy place: hiking with my husband! We were just finishing up the spectacular Three Capes Track in Tasmania, covering 48 km in four days. The ranger had told us not to get our hopes up for snow as it rarely falls, yet we woke up on the final morning to a beautiful blanket of white. I took it as a sign to always expect miracles.