Play & Art Therapy Bundaberg
Communicating Beyond Words
Play and art therapy helping young people express and process emotions when words are hard to find.
Why choose Play Therapy for your child?
It can be tough to talk about big feelings. Children often find it hard to put their thoughts and feelings into words. When we ask what’s wrong, they might shrug or say, ‘I don’t know.’ That doesn’t mean nothing is going on, it just means talking isn’t always their preferred way of communicating. Through play and art, children can express themselves in ways that feel safe and comfortable for them.
"For children, play is their natural language, and toys are their words."
– Garry L. Landreth
At Regather, our Play and Art Therapy in Bundaberg uses the children's natural language and creativity to help them process experiences and express emotions. Within a safe, supportive therapeutic relationship, healing, growth, and positive change unfold naturally.
How does it work?
Instead of sitting and talking, your child gets to play and create. Children’s lived experiences shape the content of their play and, just as adults would discuss their problems, children express and work through theirs through play. Our Bundaberg play therapy clinic is designed to be a safe haven where creativity supports children to work through difficult emotions and past experiences without the pressure of speaking directly about them.
Play and Art Therapy is more than just fun; it’s a purposeful process that helps children:
- Build emotional resilience and learn healthy ways to cope.
- Develop self-worth and confidence in their own abilities.
- Strengthen relationships and support social navigation.
- Find new ways to solve problems and adjust to life’s challenges.
We use two main approaches:
- Child-Centred Play Therapy (Ages 2-12): In our specially set-up playroom, your child leads the way while the therapist supports their unique journey through play. Because every child is different, some may find an unstructured approach challenging. In these cases, the therapist gently guides play activities to help achieve the therapeutic goals.
- Creative Therapy (Children & Young People): This involves using methods like art, sand trays, music, and stories to explore feelings and process experiences. These creative mediums offer a powerful way for children and young people to gain insight into their inner worlds, develop coping skills and resolve distress.
How we can help
Who our Bundaberg play therapy services can help
This approach is fantastic for kids and young people who are finding it tough to cope with life’s challenges. We can support children and young people experiencing:
Mental Health Concerns
For children feeling very worried, sad, or overwhelmed a lot of the time.
Neurodivergence
Children whose brains work differently, like kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Trauma
Children who have been through really scary or upsetting experiences, like abuse, neglect, or seeing family violence.
Grief and Loss
Helping children cope when their family separates or someone they love passes away.
Stressful Situations
When children are dealing with tough stuff, like being bullied at school.
Developmental Difficulties
Children who find thinking, communicating, moving, or managing sensory information (like sounds or touch) a bit harder.
Physical Health Concerns
Support for kids dealing with being in hospital or managing a long-term illness.
Disrupted Attachment
Children who have trouble forming secure and trusting relationships with their caregivers.
The Regather difference
Meet your child's therapist, Katie Hassell
Kate provides dedicated Play Therapy services to the Bundaberg and Wide Bay region. Choosing a play based therapist for your child is a big deal, so we want you to feel confident.
Hi, I'm Kate. I am a Social Worker with over 25 years of experience supporting children, young people, and their families. My background is in child and youth counselling, with expertise in mental health, family separation, trauma, domestic violence, and specialist child development.
My goal is to provide a warm and trusting relationship where your child can feel safe to heal and grow.
My qualifications include:
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Graduate Certificate in Developmental Psychiatry
- Accredited Parents Under Pressure Practitioner and Supervisor
- Graduate Certificate in Play & Art Therapy
We partner with you: Your role as a parent
You are a crucial part of your child's therapeutic journey. We work together every step of the way. For children 12 and under, our process involves:
Parent intake appointment
We always start with an initial meeting just with you (the parents/carers). This is our time to discuss your concerns, understand your child's needs, and create a plan together.
Regular review sessions
We'll meet with you regularly (usually after every five or six of your child's sessions). In these meetings, we'll share general observations, discuss progress, and explore strategies you can use at home to support your child.
A note on confidentiality
To build and maintain your child's trust, the specific details of their play and what they say in the playroom are kept confidential. This trust is essential for therapy to work.
However, we will always let you know if any important safety concerns come up.
