Occupational Therapy, Counselling and Play Therapy in Toowoomba City

Occupational therapy is a client-centred approach that supports individuals of all ages to develop, improve, or maintain the skills needed for everyday activities. Through personalised interventions, Occupational therapists help people engage in meaningful tasks, enhance independence, and improve overall well-being.

This can include helping children with fine motor skills, supporting individuals with disabilities to adapt their environment, or assisting adults in managing physical or cognitive challenges using occupational therapy. By addressing both physical and emotional needs, occupational therapy empowers clients to achieve their potential and lead fulfilling lives.

Examples of occupational therapy include:

• Children with developmental delays or Autism: Helping children develop school readiness, emotional regulation and self care skills including interoceptive awareness.
• Individuals with sensory processing issues: Assisting children or adults in managing sensitivity to light, sound, textures and movements to help them cope in different environments.
• Adults with interpersonal and mental health concerns: Supporting adults to improve their ability maintain healthy relationships and improve executive functioning to engage in occupations they need and want to do.  

These interventions enable clients to live independently, engage fully in their daily lives, and achieve a greater sense of well-being.

Based in Toowoomba City, contact us at referrals@kaizenats.com.au to learn more!

Play therapy is a therapeutic approach primarily used with children to help them express their emotions, process experiences, and resolve psychological challenges through play. In a safe and structured environment, children use toys, games, art, and other creative activities to communicate their thoughts and feelings, often in ways they may struggle to do verbally.

Play therapy helps children build coping skills, manage stress, improve social interactions, and develop emotional regulation. It’s an effective tool for addressing a range of issues, including trauma, anxiety, behavioural problems, and family dynamics.

Examples of play therapy include:

• Sandplay therapy: Children use a sand tray and miniature figurines to create scenes that represent their feelings or experiences.
• Art therapy: Children express their emotions and thoughts through drawing, painting, or sculpture, allowing them to communicate what might be hard to say.
• Role-playing: Using dolls, action figures, or puppets, children reenact scenarios to work through fears, conflicts, or social situations.
• Storytelling or puppet play: Children create stories or interact with puppets to explore emotions, relationships, or experiences.
• Board games and structured activities: Children play games that encourage turn-taking, problem-solving, and social interaction, helping them navigate real-world social and emotional situations.

By using these tools, play therapy provides a non-threatening way for children to explore complex feelings and develop the skills necessary to cope with life's challenges.

Our team at KaizenATS, based in Toowoomba City, includes an Occupational Therapist, Early Childhood Therapist, and a Counsellor- each with years of experience, tertiary education and specialised interests in Autism, ADHD, trauma and neurodivergence.

Counselling for youth provides a safe, confidential space for young people to discuss and navigate challenges in their lives. A counsellor acts as a supportive guide, helping them to develop coping skills, improve self-esteem, and better understand their thoughts and feelings. This process empowers youth to make positive changes and build resilience for the future. Using a holistic evidence-based approach integrating both scientific research and a person’s overall well-being to guide intervention. Taking into account the full spectrum of a person’s need: physical, emotional, social, and psychological, while relying on proven, evidence-supported methods to ensure effective outcomes. 

This approach recognises that each individual is unique and that health and well-being are influenced by a variety of factors, not just specific symptoms or challenges. By combining research-based strategies with personalised care, the aim is to address all aspects of a person’s life, promoting long-term health, balance, and growth.

Examples of support: 

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This approach helps youth identify and challenge negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety or depression. For example, a young person who thinks "I'm a failure" after a poor test grade might be guided to reframe this thought to "I did poorly on this one test, but I'm capable of doing better next time if I study differently."
• Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT): This type of therapy focuses on a youth's strengths and what is working well in their lives to find solutions. An example might be a counsellor asking a teenager struggling with peer conflict about a time they successfully resolved a disagreement, then using those skills to address the current problem.
• Supporting Transition to Adulthood: This intervention helps young people prepare for the significant changes and responsibilities that come with adulthood. A counsellor might work with a youth to develop essential life skills such as budgeting, time management, and navigating educational or career paths.
• Supporting Development of Social Skills: Focussing on helping youth improve their ability to interact and communicate effectively with others, managing changing social dynamics and new vulnerabilities. A counsellor might use role-playing scenarios to practice active listening, assertive communication, and understanding social cues, helping the young person build confidence in their relationships with peers and adults.

Early Childhood Autism support and intervention refer to strategies, services, and programs designed to assist children with developmental delay and autism in overcoming developmental, behavioural, emotional, or learning challenges. These interventions aim to promote healthy development, build essential skills, and ensure that children reach their full potential. Early intervention is crucial for identifying and addressing issues before they become more complex.

Examples of childhood support and intervention include:

• Behavioural therapy: Working with children to manage challenging behaviours.
• Educational support: Providing extra learning resources or tutoring for children struggling with academic tasks.
• Emotional support: Helping children cope with emotional or psychological difficulties, often through play therapy or counselling.
• Social skills training: Teaching children how to interact appropriately with peers and develop healthy relationships.

These interventions are tailored to each child’s needs and aim to create an environment where they can thrive both at home and in school.

Medicare offers specific rebates for children and young people (up to 25 years old) who require a multidisciplinary assessment for a complex neurodevelopmental disorder or eligible disability.
These rebates help families access the right professionals sooner, with less financial pressure.

To qualify, a person must:

• Have a neurodevelopmental concern such as autism, intellectual disability, or global developmental delay
• Experience significant functional challenges in daily life

Option 1: Joint Assessment

• 2.5‑hour combined session
• Collaborative assessment with two clinicians (Carlen and Natasha)
• Uses only 2 of the 4 available rebated sessions
• Lower time commitment, cost‑effective overall

Option 2: Individual OT sessions with Carlen

• Conducted over multiple 1‑hour sessions
• May use all 4 Medicare‑rebated assessment appointments

Our team will help you choose the pathway that best suits your goals, support needs, and family schedule.

In order to access the Complex Neurodevelopmental Pathway, please ask your psychiatrist or paediatrician for a referral.