OUR SERVICES
At Play Therapy Tauranga, we provide a confidential, supportive space for families, with services available at two convenient locations across Tauranga.
Each member of our team brings a unique blend of expertise, warmth, and professionalism. With a shared focus on child wellbeing, we are dedicated to helping tamariki navigate challenges and grow through therapeutic play and family-based support.
Parent/caregiver initial assessment
An initial meeting is held with the parents/caregivers to obtain a full assessment of the child’s background and family circumstances. An understanding of the child’s difficulties and parents’ concerns is obtained, and collaborative goals identified.
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Initial consultation fee is $190 plus GST (allows 1-1.5hr).
Individual Play therapy sessions (45 minutes)
Play therapy sessions provide a confidential space where the child has the freedom to express his/herself within safe boundaries. Children can play through situations that have been causing them to feel sad, angry, anxious, or afraid. Through this process children gain a better understanding of their experiences, emotions and behaviours and find their own inner resources for optimal growth and development.
The child and therapist work together in a room where the child has access to toys for dramatic play, art supplies, dress up for role plays, and a sand tray.
“Toys are like the child’s words and play is the language”
Dr Garry Landreth.
Research has shown that 16-25 sessions provide the best outcomes. However, in some cases short term therapy can be provided in 10-12 sessions.
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​​​Working with parents/caregivers
Parents and caregivers are a crucial part of the child’s healing and therapeutic process. The therapist works with the family through regular review meetings where information is shared, and the goals of therapy are worked towards in partnership.
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Play Therapy Session fees from $150 plus GST
Filial Family Therapy
Strengthening Child and Parent relationship sessions
Filial Family Therapy (FFT) , represents an extension of the principles of Child Centered Play Therapy to the entire family unit. FFT is designed for instances where inclusion of their parent/parents would be advantageous. Essentially, parents are systematically trained to conduct therapeutic play sessions with their children and receive on-going supervision and support from the FFT-trained professional to reach four goals :
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- to reduce child symptoms
- to enhance the parent- child relationship
- to improve child competence and self-esteem
- to improve parenting skills
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This supports parents in learning new skills to help their children overcome their difficulties and develop more effective child management techniques to prevent future problems developing.
Supported by a wealth of research, FFT has been demonstrated to be a highly effective approach and demonstrated the attainment of goals across a wide variety of problems.
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Family Therapy Session fees from $155 plus GST
Supervision/Consultation
Effective professional supervision offered by an experienced Child Centered Play Therapist and Filial Family Therapist to support you in your role.
Melanie provides a person centered approach to supervision sessions to maximise your selfcare and practice development.
She holds both NZ and USA Child and Family specialist qualifications.
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Supervision/Consultation Session fees Please contact us
Fees
Fees are discussed and agreed prior to the first session.
Fees are due within 2 working days of session, and sessions not attended without 24 hours’ notice will incur a cancellation fee.
