The Fight for Therapeutic Choice: Play Therapists Advocating for Children

Dr. Kate Renshaw sits down with Natalie (Nat) Scira from Playroom Therapy to explore the future of play therapy in Australia. Fresh from their collaboration on NDIS advocacy work, they discuss the challenges facing a profession with varying training standards, and the opportunities that have emerged from the uncertainties.Nat shares her journey from primary school teacher to play therapist, and we both reflect on how the NDIS review sparked crucial advocacy work - including a comprehensive literature review on play therapy's evidence base for children with disabilities. We explore the need for systemic approaches to children's mental health, the unique position of play therapy as a discipline specifically developed for children, and pathways toward greater recognition and funding access.The conversation highlights how advocacy happens at both policy and daily practice levels, emphasizing children's rights to access developmentally appropriate therapeutic interventions. Despite the challenges, both see this as a pivotal moment that could strengthen play therapy's position in Australia's healthcare landscape.A candid discussion about professional resilience, community collaboration, and the ongoing fight for children's therapeutic rights.

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