Meet your therapist

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Michelle is a Registered Play Therapist and Child Life Therapist with over 30 years of experience working with children and young people in health and education. Michelle discovered her passion for harnessing the transformative power of play to facilitate children's learning, healing and growth while working with children with autism in the education sector. She took this passion to the role of Child Life Therapist, working in tertiary children's hospitals across NSW, to support children and families in reducing the stress associated with healthcare experiences. Michelle's further studies in the Master of Child Play Therapy have consolidated her passion for embracing the therapeutic powers of play to help children explore and process difficult or traumatic experiences. 

Michelle uses an integrative approach to support children and families who have experienced medical trauma; or other social, emotional or behavioural challenges. She holds a strong belief in working with families, and other systems around the child (school, medical and allied health professionals) to understand and support their values and goals.

Michelle provides child and family therapy at Empower Kids Newcastle, for a range of social, behavioural and emotional needs. There is also limited opportunity for individual or group clinical supervision for Child Life Therapists.

Qualifications: 

Master Child Play Therapy; B.Ed; Certified Infant Massage Therapist

Affiliations:

Registered Play Therapist - Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association

NSW Executive Member - Association of Child Life Therapists Australia

Chair - Deakin University Therapeutic Play and Child Play Advisory Board

Publications:

Perrin, M. (2022). Preparing Jess for an allergy assessment. In J.A. Parson; B.J. Dean; & N.A. Hadiprodjo (Eds.) Integrating therapeutic play into nursing and allied health practice: a developmentally sensitive approach to communicating with children. (pp. 139-154): Springer