Meet Harriet
she/her
I’m the face behind Therapy and Play Co and a passionate play based Occupational Therapist. Outside of work? I’m walking my Airedale Terrier Luna, deep in a reality tv binge, travelling with my husband, cooking something new or catching up with friends over an espresso (or Rose’ depending on the day).
My story
Since 2016, I’ve worked across the paediatric space in Education, Community Health, NDIS and now School Readiness. In the beginning of 2024 I began Deakin University’s Masters of Child Play Therapy, completing my studies in October 2026.
Why Therapy & Play Co. exists
I founded Therapy & Play Co as I approached qualification as a Play Therapist, trusting the foundation of ten plus years clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist to support this next step in my professional practice. As a sole trader, I offer integrative OT and Play Therapy supports, working with children and families navigating difficulties that arise in the years before school and into primary school. This integration reflects my own professional development, rather than treating these as two separate skill sets, I wanted to build a practice where developmental, sensory, and therapeutic play-based approaches could inform one another directly. Offering families a more holistic response to the challenges their children face in these earlier, formative years.
My philosophy
My practice philosophy is simple: children grow best when their families are part of the process, not standing outside it. Play is the language children use to make sense of their world, work through what’s hard, and build new skills, but that growth needs somewhere to live once our session ends. That’s why I see families as the real change-makers in a child’s life, and my role as walking alongside them, not doing the work for them. I meet families where they actually are, and work with them to set goals that feel meaningful and achievable, right now. Because real, lasting change for a child happens through the people who love them.
What parents can expect
Getting started is flexible, intake can happen by phone, video call, or in person, whatever works best for your family. We’ll talk through your child’s development and what’s prompted you to reach out, then set goals and map out a plan together. Sessions include assessment and hands-on support in the clinic, and where it fits your child’s goals, may also take place at home or in the community. Depending on what we’re working towards, you might join the session or wait just outside, either way, you’ll always know what’s happening and why. Support here is flexible and shaped around your family, not a fixed program.
What I believe about children
I believe children don’t need to sit still, follow strict instructions, or endure boring, clinical routines to grow and develop, they need to play. Play isn’t a break from the real work of therapy; it is the work. Children process big feelings, build new skills, and make sense of hard experiences through games, giggles, mess, and make-believe, far more readily than through worksheets or rigid structure. That’s why my approach leans into fun rather than away from it: I want every child who walks through the door to leave feeling like they’ve been playing, even as real, lasting change is happening underneath.