General

A few common questions to help you understand our services and what to expect.

  • Counselling or psychotherapy provides you a space to share your personal experience and how it may have impacted your wellbeing and your environment. The counsellor or therapist may work with you to unpack your feelings, the associated challenges, and explore ways to improve your condition.

  • At Petals & Pods Therapy, we offer a person-centred approach that prioritises empathy, a genuine therapeutic relationship, respect. We incorporate talk therapy, creative therapy, and play therapy to suit the needs of our clients.

  • It may be helpful to note that a therapist does not “fix” you or your problems. As a therapist, I endeavour to support you in managing and understanding your emotional wellbeing and challenges, and I work in collaboration with you to discover alternate coping strategies and possibilities towards a more desirable outcome.

  • Counselling or psychotherapy is a journey to explore what was, what is, and what you wish to create. There may be joyful surprises or moments of toughness and grief; it may be daunting for some, yet rewarding, as you discover possibilities in navigating nuances. At Petals & Pods Therapy, we take on a holistic approach and support you by holding each of your story and journey in a gentle and respectful way.

  • Counselling sessions at Petals & Pods Therapy offers private health rebates. Unfortunately, there are no Medicare rebates available for services provided by registered counsellors at this stage.

Play Therapy

Play therapy uses play as a meaningful form of communication, offering a safe and supportive space to explore emotions, process experiences, and foster
growth and wellbeing.

  • Play is a relatable experience for most people. The tools used in play therapy supports self-expression, processing of emotions, experiences, thoughts, and ideas.

  • Play therapy is recommended for children from 3 years and above; the play therapy space can be flexibly catered to the needs of the child and their developmental stage. Play therapy can also benefit older children and adults based on their therapeutic needs.

  • A trained and qualified play therapist supports therapeutic play within a safe and respectful environment. The play therapist may or may not play with the child, depending on the model of play. Most ‘Child-Centred Play Therapies’ observes the needs of the child and follow the child’s lead, whilst ‘Directive Play Therapies’ may see the play therapist provide a certain level of guidance for specified activities. Play therapists may also facilitate the child in engaging with a deeper sense of meaning and understanding through the experience of play.

  • It may be helpful to note that a therapist does not “fix” your child, or their problems. As a play therapist, I endeavour to support your child in managing and understanding their feelings, expectations, experiences and relationships, discover their strengths, potentials, and ultimately, to support your child in becoming confident with their daily interactions through their learning, reflections and engagement in therapy.

  • Child-centre play therapy is usually conducted between the therapist and the child, with the parent seated in the waiting room whilst therapy is in progress. This has been designed for a number of purposes:

    1. To allow the child to understand that in therapy, they can have a personal space to express and process their feelings and experiences, and that their privacy is respected.

    2. The parent (or primary caregiver) will always be the primary connection for the child. Allowing the child to become independent of their parent / caregiver is an empowering experience and an opportunity for growth, self-agency, and confidence, all whilst maintaining and encouraging a sense of safety and connection with the parent / caregiver.

    3. Having a strong therapeutic relationship (between the child and therapist) is essential to effective therapeutic progress and outcomes.

    There may be exceptions when parents are invited into play therapy sessions to support specific therapeutic needs or goals for their child.

  • Just with any change or progress, many factors come into play. As a guide, you may observe your child’s responses to play therapy after the initial sessions. It can be helpful to bear in mind that some children (just like some adults) may choose not to discuss their experience in therapy once the session is over – this may not necessarily mean they do not enjoy therapy, but simply their way of engaging and dealing with their privacy, feelings, and therapeutic experiences. A good way to gain an understanding of therapeutic progress, is to have regular check-ins and discussions with your child’s therapist, and you may wish to review your child’s therapeutic goals over time. It would be okay to discuss with your therapist if you have any queries and doubts throughout the process of therapy.

  • This can vary between a number of weeks, to months, depending on the needs and goals of each child and family. You can discuss with your child’s therapist at the parent intake session to have an understanding of what this may look like for your child.

  • Most private health funds provide a rebate for play therapy sessions. Unfortunately, there are no Medicare rebates available for services provided by registered counsellors at this stage.

Creative Therapy

Creative therapy uses art and expressive approaches to support self-expression, explore emotions and experiences, and discover new perspectives within a safe and supportive space.

  • Creative therapeutic methods consist of engaging in psychotherapy through various artistic and expressive tools that supports self-expression, processing of emotions, explore difficulties or experiences within safe boundaries, and discover perspectives, thoughts and ideas. This includes, but is not limited to, art therapy, sand-tray therapy, symbol therapy, drama therapy, music, and movement therapy.

  • A creative therapist assesses each individual’s needs, then guides sessions using evidence-based methods to support the individual’s therapeutic processes and goals. This includes facilitating the therapeutic expression, reflection, holding space, and when helpful, to engage in psychoeducation that supports growth and development.

  • The process of creative therapy engages both the left and the right hemispheres of our brains, connecting both the logical and verbal language regions with the emotional and intuitive parts of our brains, to support emotional regulation and trauma recovery.

  • Creative therapy is recommended for older children, adolescents, and adults. Creative therapy may benefit those who prefer to engage in psychotherapy beyond talk or verbal therapy; it can be the focus of the therapeutic engagement or a supplement to other psychotherapeutic methods.

  • No creative or artistic skills required! What’s important is the ‘process’, not the product.

  • It may be helpful to note that a therapist does not “fix” problems. In my experience, a healthy therapeutic process supports both vulnerability and emotional resilience; it empowers people in finding meaning and discover strengths, learn new skills, and uncover potentials to transform experiences.

  • Creative therapy sessions at Petals & Pods Therapy qualify for private health rebates. Unfortunately, there are no Medicare rebates available for services provided by registered counsellors at this stage.

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