Welcome
My name is Katie Summerfield and I am a registered play therapist located in Marrickville, Sydney. I have an honours degree in Psychology and Post-Graduate training in Therapeutic Play. I am member of the British Psychological Society (BPS), Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA) and Play Therapy International (PTI). I have over 10 years experience working with children, adolescents and families in areas such as domestic violence, drug and alcohol, trauma, homelessness, child protection and disability. My decision to choose this path is borne out of a love and passion for helping children, our most valuable and vulnerable treasures.
My approach is person-centred as I appreciate that we are all individuals and think about, plan and experience our lives in different ways. I work to empower others to get the life that they want, built on values of inclusion, focusing on capabilities. I fully believe that we all have the capacity for “self-actualisation” (Carl Rogers 1951); to achieve our goals and desires and feel our best. Like a flower, we can bloom in the right environment; in the play therapy room I work with empathy, acceptance and genuineness to help create a safe space for children and adolescents in order for them to work through their issues and “grow”.
Working in family support for a FaCS program for many years, I am trained in Filial Play Coaching (parent-child relationship), Solution Focused-Brief Therapy and the Incredible Years parenting program. I can also assist parents to work towards a safer, happier and more relaxed home environment in a strength-based way. I regularly participate in ongoing professional development and clinical supervision to meet ethical and clinical standards set by the BPS, APPTA and PTI.
Katie Summerfield Registered Play Therapist
Rogers, C. (1951). Client-centered therapy: Its current practice, implications and theory. London: Constable.