Paws to Play Psychology

Hey, it was a good mindfulness exercise 🧘‍♀️ 🙏

Thanks Paws to Play Psychology for demonstrating this groundbreaking new practice. 🎉😂

I'll be sticking to more commonly known evidence-based interventions... and wish not to trial this one myself 🙏🏻

Some exciting groups happening this term 🐾

🌟 Term 3 Groups & Workshops Are Here! 🌟

We're so excited to share our Term 3 timetable at Foundations & Friends! 💛

Our small-group programs are designed to support children to build confidence, friendships, emotional wellbeing, creativity, daily living skills, school ready skill and more! in a fun, supportive environment.

✨ This term includes:

🎒 School Readiness (4–6 years)
Supporting confidence, independence, social skills, emotional regulation and a successful transition to school.
- Facilitated by Lauren from Up The Hill We Grow

💖 Girl Power
Building confidence, healthy friendships, increasing self-esteem, emotional wellbeing and connection.
-Multiple Facilitators

🛠️ Boy Crew
Encouraging teamwork, problem-solving, social connection, confidence and belonging.
-Multiple Facilitators

🐾 Calm Companions (8–12 years)
A unique program combining emotional regulation and anxiety management, wellbeing, confidence and connection with the support of therapy animals.
-Facilitated by Sharon from Paws to Play Psychology

🐉 Dragons on the Spectrum (10+ years)
A neurodiversity-affirming social group using role-play, creativity, problem-solving and shared interests to build social confidence and connection.
-Facilitated by Ashley from Affirming Care Services

🕵️ Secret Agent Society (1:1) (8–12 years)
Evidence-based social skills coaching helping children develop emotional regulation, conversation skills, friendships and confidence.
-Facilitated by Ashley from Affirming Care Services

🎨 HeART Studio (10+ years)
A creative and therapeutic art-based group supporting self-expression, emotional wellbeing and connection.
-Facilitated by Lauren from Inner Worlds Art Therapy

☕ Connected Caregivers
A welcoming space for parents and carers to connect, learn practical strategies, reduce stress and feel supported by others who understand the journey.
- Facilitated by Jennifer from Jennifer Prince Holistic Counsellor and Wellbeing Coach

👩‍⚕️ Our groups are facilitated by a range of qualified allied health professionals including Play Therapists, Developmental Educators, Psychologists, Counsellors, Social Workers, Art Therapists and other experienced practitioners.

📍 Emerald, VIC
📅 Limited places available in most groups
🫶 Many of our groups align with common NDIS Capacity Building goals and may be accessed using eligible NDIS funding where appropriate. We also warmly welcome self-funded participants and children without NDIS plans who may also have common goals, interests or challenges.

👇 Ready to join us?
Click on the link below to secure your place today!
https://foundations-for-childhood.splose.com/public-form/a1892e38-eb4d-47d6-9994-afee1fb14f89

🐾 Hi everyone, it’s Skip and Pogo here!

We’ve signed up for Walk for Autism this May, which means we’re walking 7,000 steps a day to support Autistic Australians and their families.

Mum says it’s for a very important cause… we just heard the word ‘walk’ and were immediately in. 🐕🐕

Funds raised help provide earlier diagnosis, autism-specific education, research, and support services for autistic people and their families.

💙 If you’d like to support us, you can donate here:

https://www.walkforautism.org.au/fundraiser/sharonpatton/walk-for-autism

And if you’d like to join our team and walk with us this May, we’d love that too!

Thanks for cheering us on! 🐾💙

Support my Walk for Autism! Did you know? Because the world is not autism-friendly, 70% of Autistic people in Australia experience mental health challenges. That's why I'm walking 7k steps a day in May. Please help build positive change and support my Walk for Autism. Your donation will help create a more autism-friendly world...

Some great school holiday workshops coming up at Foundations and Friends

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.
Skip and Pogo are demonstrating how our feelings can sometimes be 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀:
✔️ 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆
✔️ 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆
✔️ 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝘂𝗴-𝗼𝗳-𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁:
Skip thinks she’s winning.
Pogo strongly disagrees. 🐾😆

🐾 Skip & Pogo are officially settled into the new therapy room and they’re SO excited to welcome families in 🐶🐶

They’re loving their new space and have already mapped out their premium zoomies circuit 💨🏁 🏎️

✨ Can’t wait to see you all soon at Paws to Play Psychology ✨

🎄🐾 End-of-Year Wishes from Paws to Play Psychology 🐾🎄

As we wrap up the year, we would like to send a huge thank you to all the amazing children, families, and carers who have been part of Paws to Play Psychology this year. It’s been a year full of brave moments, big feelings, proud wins, and plenty of laughter along the way.

For those who celebrate Christmas, I hope the season brings joy, connection, and some well-earned downtime.
For those who don’t, I wish you a happy, restful end-of-year break and time to recharge in ways that feel right for you.

Skip and Pogo have absolutely loved being part of sessions this year; from playful games and learning new tricks to sneaky cuddles when they were most needed. They are now officially on holiday and very excited about extra naps, walks, and treats 🦴

✨ Re-opening dates:
• Home visits available 5–9 January
• Our new space opens from 12 January.

Wishing you all a safe, happy, and hopeful end to the year.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in the new year and in our new space.

See you in 2026,
Sharon, Skip & Pogo 🐾🐶
Paws to Play Psychology

🐾✨ 𝙋𝙖𝙬𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙐𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 ✨🐾

It has been a very busy and rewarding year at Paws to Play Psychology, filled with moments of growth, confidence building and genuine progress for so many children and families.

Skip and Pogo have been working their tiny paws off, actively helping kids learn pivotal skills such as emotion regulation, impulse control, empathy, frustration tolerance and problem solving. Their playful, structured AAT work has supported meaningful change and made learning feel safe and fun 🐶💛🐶

🎄 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠
Paws to Play will be taking a limited break from Christmas Day and returning on 12 January.
We will still offer a small number of appointments during this period for clients who need support or want to maintain therapeutic momentum, so please reach out if you would like an appointment during this time.

🌿 𝙈𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Our new space will be bigger and brighter with more room for creative therapeutic work, outdoor play and future groups.

💻 𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨
Telehealth sessions will be offered on Mondays for older teens, adults and parents who prefer the comfort and flexibility of online care.

🐾 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙍𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙙
A small number of new client places will open once we are settled into Emerald.

Thank you to every family who has been part of Paws to Play this year. We are excited for another year of connection, progress and plenty of paws on the floor.

Happy holidays 🎄⭐💛

Sharon, Skip and Pogo