About Shonali

Founder | Bachelor of Science - Occupational Therapy (2009) | Advanced Clinical Training Child-Centred Play Therapy (2018)

I’ve worked with children and families for over 12 years in Australia and the UK. I was drawn to play therapy as I always felt I was missing something in my work. I wanted to support kids to connect more deeply with the heart and essence of themselves. I wasn’t so concerned about whether they could ‘do the skills,’ or act in ways that others expected of them - I cared most about how they felt about themselves and how connected they felt to those around them. But how to do this with children - when language and communication is so complex and often not developmentally appropriate!?

Enter play therapy! It felt to me like pure magic! There’s actually myriads of attachment and neurobiology research and evidence to support why this approach is effective, but it still feels like magic to me! I spent the next three years immersed in supporting families and children with disability diagnoses, and/ or under the Guardianship of Child Protection and Family Services. What a privilege to enter these children’s worlds!

Since becoming a parent of two young children my passion for play therapy has only grown. I’d thought before having kids - “I’ve got this! I’m an OT and Play Therapist.” (face - slap). What I hadn't realised is that our children are perfectly designed to trigger and highlight every single aspect of ourselves that we require growth or healing in. Having my play therapy skills has allowed me to release guilt and focus on connection when I’ve parented in ways that are outside my ideal values or the high expectations I hold myself to. I love my weekly Connected play sessions with my preschooler.

My decision to make support mobile and accessible in people’s homes is to create the most meaningful change. The most important relationships for our children are with their caregivers. By holding you and your child in the familiarity of your home, the greatest healing occurs.