FAQs for Parents | Harmony Play Therapy

Freqeuntly Asked Questions

Families often have a lots of questions when investigating Play Therapy. Here are some of the most common questions and answers.

What Does a Play Therapy Session Look Like?

In Play Therapy, the therapist creates a warm, welcoming space filled with carefully chosen toys, games, and art materials. These items are selected to match your child’s interests, challenges, and therapy goals. Sessions are child-led, which means your child guides the play while the therapist follows their lead. This approach helps children feel safe, confident, and comfortable in the playroom.

What does the Play Therapist do?

The therapist builds a trusting relationship with your child based on connection, empathy, and acceptance. Through this relationship, your child is supported to express emotions and work through challenges, while the therapist gently reflects feelings and actions. This gives valuable insight into your child’s inner world and helps us understand how to best support them both inside and outside the playroom. The relationship with the Play Therapist ensures your child feels safe, accepted, emotionally supported, and free to explore — laying the foundation for growth, resilience, and wellbeing.

What can Play Therapy help with?

The following are some of the concerns that play therapy can help with, but there many others - if you’re not sure, please contact us to ask!

Abuse
Anxiety and depression
Attachment
Attention and hyperactivity issues
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Behavioural concerns
Building social skills

Bullying
Chronic illness
Communication difficulties
Depression
Developmental delays

Dyregulated emotions
Family separation & divorce
Grief & loss

Learning disabilities
Low self esteem
Oppositional and conduct disorders
Phobias
Sibling rivalry
Situational mutism
Social skills & friendships
Trauma

Can’t my child just play at home?

Play Therapy is not the same as regular play. In Play Therapy, the therapist gently supports your child to explore and work through challenges in a safe and supportive way. Play creates a comfortable distance from problems, allowing children to express their thoughts and feelings without needing to find the “right words.” Through play, children can practice new skills and learn more helpful ways of managing emotions and relationships. They may build confidence in communicating with others, expressing feelings, solving problems, and finding different ways of connecting. Even big worries can be explored in Play Therapy, with children discovering and rehearsing strategies that can become lasting tools for life.

Will my child play with other children at Play Therapy?

Play Therapy sessions take place between your child and the Play Therapist. During these sessions, your child has the opportunity to build social skills through role play, practice communication in a safe and supportive environment, and strengthen emotional regulation with the therapist’s guidance. The skills your child develops in the playroom are designed to be carried into everyday life, supporting their relationships, confidence, and wellbeing beyond the therapy space.

How are parents involved?

Our first meeting will be between parent and therapist, without your child present. This gives us space to talk together about your child and family, and for you to learn more about Play Therapy and how it works. We’ll explore how Play Therapy can support your child and set goals that feel right for your family.

These sessions are designed to help you feel confident about the Play Therapy process, while also giving me a deeper understanding of your child’s needs and how we can best support you.

Every six weeks, we’ll reconnect in parent-only meetings. These are a chance for me to share updates about your child’s progress and for us to adjust our plan together if needed.

Between meetings, you’re welcome to send emails or text messages if you’d like to share updates or ask questions. This helps me stay attuned to your child’s needs and ensures our work together continues to feel responsive and supportive.

Will I Be in the Room During Play Therapy?

It’s important to us that Play Therapy meets your child’s individual needs. Our aim is for your child to participate in sessions while you wait outside the room. This supports them in beginning the therapeutic process and helps the therapist guide your child in connecting with their own feelings and nervous system.

At the same time, your child’s comfort is always our priority. If your child needs you present to feel safe, the therapist will work with them in that space. When your child feels ready, we will gently support the transition to you waiting outside the room, at a pace that honours their sense of safety.

How long will my child need to attend play therapy?

Parents often wonder how long their child will need Play Therapy; however there’s no set timeframe. It’s considered a medium- to long-term approach, and the length of time varies for each child. Some children may make significant progress in around 15 sessions, while others may need 30 or more. Every child’s journey is unique, and the number of sessions depends on their individual needs. The therapist and parents work together to decide what feels most supportive, with regular check-ins to review progress and adjust the plan as your child grows and changes.

What is the difference between seeing a Play Therapist and a Psychologist?

Both psychologists and play therapists support children’s emotional wellbeing, but they work in different ways. Psychologists often use talking therapies, which suit older children and young people who can put their experiences and feelings into words. Play Therapists use play — a child’s natural language — to help children express feelings, practice communication, and build emotional regulation skills through toys, art, role play, and storytelling. Play Therapy is especially helpful for younger children who may not yet have the words to explain how they feel, offering a safe, supportive space where skills learned in the playroom can be carried into everyday life at home and school.

Fees and Additional Services

Play therapy can be funded through families who are privately paying, as well as those accessing funding through the NDIS. At this time, Play Therapy sessions are not eligible for rebates through Medicare, or private health insurance.

Below you’ll find the fee structure for both therapy sessions and any additional professional services.

Additional Services

In addition to scheduled appointments, your practitioner may charge on a prorated basis for services requested outside of session time. These may include:

Writing reports
Phone calls longer than 15 minutes
Attending meetings or consultations at your request
Any other professional support you ask your therapist to provide

All charges will be discussed with you beforehand to ensure transparency and mutual agreement.

What happens next?

Fill out a referral form.
The Play Therapist will contact you as soon as possible.
Intake Meeting. A parent-only meeting with the therapist where you can learn more about Play Therapy and share your child’s/family’s story.
Service Agreement/Consent Form – If you choose to proceed, you’ll be asked to complete a service agreement/consent form. For separated or divorced parents, signed consent from both parents is required.
Observation Session – You and your child attend a one-hour session where your child meets the therapist, explores the playroom, and begins to feel comfortable.
Weekly Sessions – Your child attends one-hour sessions each week at the same time and day. While your child is in session, you’re welcome to relax in the waiting room, visit the nearby park, or enjoy a coffee at The Laughing Fox café.
Parent Consultation & Feedback – Every six weeks, parents meet with the therapist (without children present) to hear about progress, share updates, review goals, and plan next steps together. Decisions about continuing with another block of sessions are made collaboratively, based on your child’s needs and growth.