Play and Beyond - Therapy and Support

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐀𝐈 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭? 🤔💙🤣

I uploaded a couple of photos and asked AI to create a "mini-me" ragdoll version of me, along with an acrostic of my personality using the letters in my name.

So ... do you agree with AI's analysis of me?" 🤔👇💜🩵

P.S. Don't I make a fabulous rag doll?! 😂🧵💙

🌏With 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 just around the corner

👇🩵👇💚👇🧡👇

🎗️ 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭 🎗️

This is not about who suffers more.
It is not intended to compare illnesses or diminish the experiences of those affected by cancer.

Like so many others, cancer has touched my family and friends. 💜
I have witnessed the fear, the heartbreak, the uncertainty, and the incredible strength of those facing it. Cancer deserves every bit of the compassion, support and understanding it receives.

But I also recognise that many people living with invisible illnesses will relate to this image. 💭

I have advocated for invisible illnesses for a long time now — FND, ME/CFS, PTSD, mental illness and so many others. 🧠💙

Yet I am still saddened by how often I hear:
💬 "At least it's not cancer."
💬 "At least it's not..."
💬 "Other people have it worse."

Since when did suffering become a competition? 🤔

Why do we feel the need to compare one person's pain to another's in order to decide whether it is worthy of empathy?

The more people speak up about invisible illnesses, the more they seem to be compared, dismissed, labelled as attention-seeking, told they're a broken record, or made to feel as though they need to justify their struggle.

But behind every diagnosis is a human being. ❤️

👩 Someone's mother.
👨 Someone's father.
🧑 Someone's brother.
👩 Someone's sister.
👦 Someone's son.
👧 Someone's daughter.
👵 Someone's grandchild.
🏡 Someone's neighbour.
🤝 Someone's friend.

A person's suffering does not become less real because their illness is invisible.

A person's worth is not determined by how visible their illness is. 💜

What would it take for us, as a community, to stop comparing and start caring?

To simply recognise the humanity in one another and offer the same compassion, respect and empathy that every person deserves. ✨

Because suffering is not a competition. 🌎❤️

And kindness costs nothing. 💜✨

💙A huge thank you to the beautiful and caring Aline for joining us yesterday for our final Support Hub session, You Matter Too.

Aline, a registered counsellor, shared valuable insights, practical strategies, and genuine compassion, creating a warm and supportive space for everyone who attended.

She even guided us through a hands-on sewing activity! 🧵 Those who know me well know that I can barely thread a needle, but Aline patiently showed me what to do. 😊

Thank you, Aline, for sharing your knowledge, kindness, and heart with our group. We are so grateful. 💜✨

P.S. I will be offering hand-sewing classes soon... just kidding! Anyone who saw my sewing skills yesterday knows we might all be in trouble if that happened! 😂🧵

“The toys are children's words and play is their language.” 🎈

Today, the play therapy community mourns the passing of Garry Landreth. Many people may never know his name, yet his impact on the lives of children around the world is immeasurable. Through his teachings, he transformed the way we understand play, behaviour, and the inner world of a child. 💜🧸✨

Thank you, Garry, for helping us truly see, hear, and understand children. Your wisdom, compassion, and belief in the healing power of relationships will live on through every therapist who sits with a child in acceptance, empathy, and trust. 💙

Your legacy will continue to ripple through playrooms, families, and generations to come. 🎈🧩🌈💫

💙Sharing with client permission 💙

💛❤💙 Friendly reminder

👇👇👇

🌿 Just One Week to Go! 🌿

Our final Village Connect: Support Hub session is happening this 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟐𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 and we would love for you to join us.

Parenting, caring for others, and navigating life's challenges can be overwhelming at times. That's why this space was created — to offer connection, support, and a reminder that you don't have to do it all alone.

This week, we are excited to welcome Aline, an experienced and compassionate counsellor, who will be presenting:

💛 "𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐨" 💛

A gentle and empowering session focused on the importance of caring for yourself while caring for others. Aline brings extensive experience supporting people through trauma, grief and loss, life transitions, relationship challenges, and times of feeling overwhelmed or stuck.

✨ 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄
✨ A safe and supportive space
✨ Connect with other parents and caregivers
✨ Child-free environment

📅 Friday 12th June
⏰ 10:00am – 12:00pm
📍 Urangan Community Wellness Centre

Come along, grab a cuppa, connect with others, and take some time for you.

As numbers are limited you will need to sign up here
👇👇👇
https://www.cognitoforms.com/PlayAndBeyond1/VillageConnectSupportHubIntakeForm

Because supporting yourself matters too. ❤️

🌿 Just One Week to Go! 🌿

Our final Village Connect: Support Hub session is happening this 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟐𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 and we would love for you to join us.

Parenting, caring for others, and navigating life's challenges can be overwhelming at times. That's why this space was created — to offer connection, support, and a reminder that you don't have to do it all alone.

This week, we are excited to welcome Aline, an experienced and compassionate counsellor, who will be presenting:

💛 "𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐨" 💛

A gentle and empowering session focused on the importance of caring for yourself while caring for others. Aline brings extensive experience supporting people through trauma, grief and loss, life transitions, relationship challenges, and times of feeling overwhelmed or stuck.

✨ 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄
✨ A safe and supportive space
✨ Connect with other parents and caregivers
✨ Child-free environment

📅 Friday 12th June
⏰ 10:00am – 12:00pm
📍 Urangan Community Wellness Centre

Come along, grab a cuppa, connect with others, and take some time for you.

As numbers are limited you will need to sign up here
👇👇👇
https://www.cognitoforms.com/PlayAndBeyond1/VillageConnectSupportHubIntakeForm

Because supporting yourself matters too. ❤️

✨We spend a lot of time asking children questions, hoping they'll tell us what's going on inside.

But what if they're already telling us?

🫅Through their play.
🧸Through the toys they choose.
🎨Through the stories they create.
🧩Through the things they repeat over and over again.

Sometimes the most important thing we can do is slow down, watch, and truly listen with our eyes. 👀❤️

Last chance to book in for tomorrow👇👇👇

🧡💙 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭: 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐛

Only 2 sessions remaining!

Feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or alone in parenting? 💛
You are not alone.

This FREE support hub offers a safe, judgement-free space for parents and caregivers to connect, feel supported and access practical guidance from local professionals.

✨ This week we welcome Ruth, Family Support Worker/Coordinator , who will be sharing information about the services and supports available for families to access locally.

📍 The Treehouse – Urangan Community Wellness Centre
📅 Fridays | 10am–12pm

Limited spots available. Register here:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/PlayAndBeyond1/VillageConnectSupportHubIntakeForm

*𝑃𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒.