Riptide Therapeutic Services - Play Therapy and Child and Adolescent Counselling

Get to know Riptide Therapeutic Services - Play Therapy and Child and Adolescent Counselling

From Riptide Therapeutic Services - Play Therapy and Child and Adolescent Counselling's website.

• Our approach

  Sessions are warm, unhurried and led entirely by the child or young person, with no worksheets, right answers or pressure to talk. Children and young people are free to play, create, move and simply be, while the therapist sits alongside them, fully present and genuinely curious. Approaches are tailored using evidence-based methods including play therapy, creative therapy, counselling and modalities such as EMDR, CBT, DBT and ACT, selected based on each child's presenting concerns, strengths, preferences and goals. Sessions may be conversational, creative, skills-based or experiential, with flexibility to incorporate movement, walking sessions or shared activities. The therapy is trauma-informed and neuro-affirming, prioritising building trust, safety and genuine connection at a pace that feels respectful and empowering.

• Working with families

  Parents and carers are central to the therapeutic process at Riptide. The initial 15-minute consultation happens with just the parent or carer to discuss your child's needs and confirm the fit. The therapist keeps families informed every step of the way as therapy progresses. Parent consultation, capacity building and support are also available for the adults in a child's life, recognising that when a child is struggling, the whole family feels it. Once the initial work is done, the service helps children, young people and families build the skills, knowledge and confidence to navigate whatever challenges life brings next.

• Meet the team

  Amy is the founder and sole therapist at Riptide, holding two specialist qualifications that make her unique in the region: she is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) and a Registered Play Therapist (APTA), and is the only practitioner with both qualifications specialising in children and young people in the Surf Coast and Colac-Otway area. She brings more than six years of experience across the Victorian prosecution service, family and domestic violence, child and adolescent mental health, youth diversion and schools. Amy is a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and the Australian Play Therapists Association (APTA), and regularly accesses clinical supervision to ensure her practice remains reflective, grounded and current. Her approach combines deep expertise in trauma, genuine understanding of neurodivergence, and knowledge of how local systems work to support the whole family.

• Your first visit

  The process begins with a free 15-minute initial consultation with just the parent or carer, where you'll discuss your child's needs, get your questions answered and confirm that Riptide feels like the right fit for your family. There is no referral required to get in touch. After this initial conversation, your child will start their play therapy or counselling sessions in a warm, safe environment designed for them. The therapist will keep you informed every step of the way as therapy progresses.