Kylie Ellison – CEO/Clinical Supervisor/Trainer
Kylie is a registered counsellor with ACA who has been working with children, young people and families in the human services field for the past 19 years. Kylie commenced her career working alongside mental health practitioners in adult mental health, before moving into the area of child protection.
Kylie’s work within child protection focussed on developing her strengths based practice framework in working with reunification and intervention with parental agreement cases. Kylie moved into the non-government sector where her passion for the advocacy of children and young people led to her role as service manager of a youth support agency on the Sunshine Coast.
After leaving this role to pursue her Honours in Psychology, Kylie gained employment within specialist foster care where she further developed her interest in narrative therapy, trauma- informed care and strengths based practice. Kylie holds a humanistic view of client work believing in the potential of the individual given adequate resources and support.
More recently Kylie has discovered a passion for child centered play therapy as a way of working alongside children and their parents/ carers. Kylie feels honoured to have the opportunity to support children in this way of working, to assist children to work through difficult feelings and experiences in their lives in a way that feels most natural to them, play.
Along with being a registered counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), Kylie is the founder and President of the Play Therapy Practitioners Association (PTPA), a professional association established for those interested in or trained as play therapists in Australia. Kylie is passionate about creating a community of play therapy practitioners that fosters access to training and therapy services along with advocacy for play therapy in both the community and professional arenas.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), UQ (2004)
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology, Bond University (2009)
Postgraduate Certificate in Play Therapy, Play Therapy Australia (2015)
Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy, ACAP (2018)
Registered Counsellor- Australian Counselling Association (ACA)- Level 2
Registered Clinical Supervisor- ACA College of Supervisors
Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor, Play Therapy Practitioners Association (PTPA)
Mel Robinson – Clinical Supervisor/Trainer
Mel has been practicing as a Social Worker and Psychotherapist for 25 years, in Independent School settings, health services, and more recently has been employed as a Mental Health Clinician in a boutique psychology practice on the outskirts of the beautiful Barossa Valley in South Australia.
After training in directive Play Therapy interventions in August of 2022, Mel was curious to learn more about Child Centred Play Therapy practice and how this humanistic, non-directive modality might be added to her clinical toolkit to support children in the Early Intervention space meaningfully. Mel participated in the Advanced Certificate in Play Therapy Studies with the Centre for Play Therapy early in 2023 and was immediately energised by the transformative nature of child-led therapeutic play; and how this modality demonstrates an endlessly hopeful belief in the child’s innate capacities for healing and growth. Since undertaking the Advanced Certificate Mel has established a playroom and CCPT services in the practice in which she works.
Outside of her professional roles, Mel finds joy in her family, especially being mum to three busy growing boys and actively participating in her local community as an advocate and friend.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Social Work (1995) – Uni SA
Master of Social Science (Counselling Studies) (2009) – Uni SA
Certificate in Mindfulness and Wellbeing for Children (2021) – Peaceful Kids
Theraplay (Level 1) (2022) – Foundational Practicum – Theraplay Institute
EMDR (Level 1) (2022)
Advanced Certificate in Play Therapy Studies – Centre for Play Therapy (2023)
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)
Social Work Mentor ASSW (2023, 2024)