Meet Deb: Where Play Meets Healing
| For over 13 years, Deb has been creating safe spaces where children find their voice — sometimes through laughter, sometimes through tears, and often through the simple yet profound language of play. With a Master of Child Play Therapy (Deakin University) and a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours) (Charles Darwin University), Deb brings both academic rigour and heartfelt compassion to her work. She is currently completing a Graduate Diploma in Psychology Advanced at Monash University, deepening her commitment to best practice for the children and families who trust her with their stories. Deb is accredited as a Senior Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) with APPTA (Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association), one of the most advanced credentials in the field in Australasia. A breadth of experience Deb’s journey has taken her into some of the most challenging environments imaginable — correctional facilities, paediatric hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and remote communities across Queensland and the Northern Territory. She has worked alongside children navigating developmental trauma, grief, anxiety, physical conditions, and complex psychological needs. Her specialised experience includes supporting children with: • Elective mutism • Non-speaking autism and ASD • Hearing impairments • Developmental trauma and PTSD • Attachment difficulties and family separation Over a decade of intensive work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities has shaped Deb’s deeply culturally responsive practice, enriched by training in Narrative Therapy at the Dulwich Centre and the Tjanara Goreng Goreng Indigenous Education Workshop. Meet Guide Dogs Deb is joined in sessions by a Guide Dogs Queensland co-therapist whose calm, gentle presence helps even the most anxious children settle in and feel safe. As a Guide Dog puppy raiser, Deb works alongside these beautiful animals as they develop — each one an irreplaceable part of The Magical World of Play for the time they’re here When she’s not in session You’ll find Deb on her yoga mat, training Guide Dog puppies for Guide Dogs Australia, wandering through forest trails, cooking up a storm, or laughing with family — reminding herself that joy and connection are medicine too. Ready to take the next step? I’d love to chat about whether play therapy could help your child. Book your free 20-minute Discovery Call today. [Book Your Free Discovery Call] |