Grounded in Growth

05/03/2025

💜 ACTIVATION WARNING: RE CYCLONE ALFRED: Sending so much love to every person, child, family, animal and community impacted by the current warnings and fears in relation to Cyclone Alfred and Flooding as we all prepare for whatever may come.

I’ve experienced first hand many natural disasters and their devastating impacts both in Far North Queensland and here in Northern NSW including two major cyclones and three major floods.

In 2006, after Category 5 Cyclone Larry directly hit my community in Innisfail, I had the honour of meeting General Peter Cosgrove (who led the recovery plan in Innisfail) and Governess Quentin Bryce and hearing them both speak at an event I had a lead role in organising in the community to bring people together shortly after for recovery purposes.

Now, every time I experience another natural disaster I am always reminded of this time in 2006, when it was my very first.

What most stands out for me though isn’t just the disaster itself, but how amazing the human spirit is, how remarkable people and animals and communities are and how communities come together for recovery in the most powerful ways.

So, as we prepare I hope we can also remember and hold some sense of knowing that we will get through this. Whatever may come.

Sending love to all 💜

04/03/2025

💜 As QLD and our community in NNSW prepares for Cyclone Alfred and the potential major flood, schools are closed here, preparationss are in full force and anxiety is high, it’s so important to also remember our little people and how confusing and scary this time can be for them.

This is a wonderful resource for our little people to help them understand what is happening.

Sending love during this time and wishing you and your loved ones and animals and communities all the very best and to stay safe.

31/10/2024

💜 Meeting my Play Therapy Supervisor, Jodi Mullen, PhD LMHC RPT-S in person for the first time last weekend at the Play Therapy Symposium was an absolute pleasure and honour.

Engaging in the day of training Jodi provided in relation to “Sexually Traumatised Children in Play Therapy” was also an absolute privilege and the knowledge, skills, passion and insights shared were so important and so powerful.

Jodi’s sharing of her respect and advocacy for the rights and inner wisdom of children, belief in and knowing of the power of Child Centered Play Therapy and passion for providing children with the opportunity to develop deep connections and an ability for growth and healing through CCPT was beyond inspiring.

What a gift it has been to benefit from all that Jodi has gifted to me (and undoubtedly lots of us) through her sharing and consequently also to the children and families I am privileged to connect with.

What an honour it is to share in children’s lives and journeys of healing and growth. 💜

27/10/2024

💜 I am so very excited to share that I have just spent three days at the Play Therapy Symposium attending continued Professional Development training in Play Therapy. The first day I attended training in “Adverse Childhood Experiences, Trauma and Play Therapy” with DEE RAY 💞 (first photo!)

Not only is Dee a Professor, Co-Director of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas, Researcher, Author of over 150 articles, chapters and books in the field of Play Therapy, a Play Therapist, Trainer and Supervisor, she is also a lovely person and amazing advocate for children. 💜

I am also feeling so grateful for the lovely feedback I received about “Ash Goes to Play Therapy” and how it is being shared with families.

Connecting with such influential and passionate people in the world of Play Therapy was wonderful and learning and growing further in my skills, knowledge and passion as a Play Therapist has been fantastic. 💜

If you’d like a copy of Ash Goes to Play Therapy copies are available at:
Ashgoestoplaytherapy.com

16/06/2024

💜A year ago I decided to embark on another new pathway of learning in EMDR and to embrace the new growth and adventure I knew it would inevitably bring! I am very excited to share that I have now completed EMDR Level 2 training and feel I can call myself an EMDR Therapist (albeit with so much to learn, practice and experience as I move forward further!)

Thank you so much again Caroline Burrows. It was a huge three days of learning and practice that I am so grateful to have experienced with you as our guide. Your knowledge and skills are second to none and your absolute passion for EMDR is infectious! I so look forward to continuing to access supervision to support my process of learning and offering EMDR!! 🥰

08/02/2024

💜💞 HAPPY NEW YEAR and INTERNATIONAL PLAY THERAPY WEEK 2024!!

To celebrate I wanted to offer a SPECIAL DEAL on my self published book, ASH GOES TO PLAY THERAPY, this week only! (while stocks last!)

If you’re in Australia and you’d like a copy or several copies to share with parents, carers, families, organisations and/or children go to Ashgoestoplaytherapy.com and claim your DISCOUNT of 40% off your total order!!

Simply type in the Discount Code: IPTW24 at the checkout towards the end of the order on the right hand side! (Sorry… Only available directly through the website and in Australia).

Feel free to also pass on these details to parents/carers and others who may be interested!

I feel so honoured and lucky to be a Play Therapist and to share in my passion with you also!

Have a wonderful week! 💜💜💞
www.groundedingrowth.org

22/12/2023

💜 Christmas time can be a really challenging time of year for many people. Sending love and thoughts to everyone at this time. Thanks for sharing Misa On Wheels

20/12/2023

💜 It is with so much excitement that I continue sharing Ash Goes to Play Therapy with children, caregivers, families and professionals in our world!

I have been so blown away by the support, interest and kindness offered, including people hoping to translate Ash Goes to Play Therapy into other languages, businesses wanting to stock it, professionals wanting to purchase bulk copies for those training and families they connect with, people wanting information about how they can also self publish and families and people outside of Australia finding ways to purchase copies.

I have also been so humbled by the beautiful sharing of photographs and feedback from children, families and professionals and want to thank you so much for your ongoing kindness and openness in receiving Ash Goes to Play Therapy with the spirit in which it was created.

FINAL ORDERS are available now in Australia directly through me via Ashgoestoplaytherapy.com until the end of this week (for 2023) as I spend some time enjoying time with my family between Christmas and New Year. Final orders will be posted Friday and limited stock is available!!

I hope that this period of time over the year is all you hope for for you and your loved ones and send love and peace to you all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your ongoing support all the way and STAY TUNED NEXT YEAR for package deals and incentives for purchasing and sharing Ash Goes to Play Therapy! 💜✨

19/12/2023

💜 My heart… Thank you so much Play Therapy with Millie for sharing this beautiful photo of Ash Goes to Play Therapy in your waiting room and for your beautiful feedback. What a gift to see this today! ✨

Excited to pop this gorgeous book in our waiting room for families today! 🥰

Thank you to the beautiful Natalie at Grounded in Growth for creating this wonderful book ✨

Ash Goes To Play Therapy Community

19/12/2023

💜 As the year comes to an end and I reflect upon all that has happened and is happening, I can’t help but feel such a mixture of deep sadness and deep gratitude and happiness also.

I want to send love to all of those people and animals who have suffered and are suffering right now in our world. It has been and is a really hard time for so many and I want to acknowledge these struggles and the depth of pain and also the support and love that can also exist in the places of pains’ existence.

Again this year I have also been constantly reminded of the beautiful kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity, support and love that exists in our world and the depth of beauty and wisdom that exist within children, adults, families and communities.

I am honoured, humbled and beyond grateful to be connected with so many beautiful people in my life, personally and professionally and to have had the privilege and honour of recommencing therapeutic work privately and connecting once again with the most amazing clients, both children and adults, who constantly inspire and motivate me and who are always teaching me also.

Since returning to work in July this year (after a beautiful year at home with my family and baby girl) I have completed EMDR Training and commenced the provision of EMDR with adult clients under supervision, completed Clinical Supervision Training, completed a Masterclass training in Play Therapy Supervision, become an approved Registered Play Therapist + Supervisor (RPT-S APTA), renewed registration as an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AASW) and self published my first children’s book “Ash Goes to Play Therapy”. I feel proud of what I’ve achieved in a relatively short time and want to thank you and my beautiful family also for the support and beautiful kindness every step of the way.

At this point in the year now I feel tired even though my heart feels full.

I feel deeply grateful and also disappointed.

I feel deeply happy and also deeply sad.

I feel courageous and strong and also afraid and anxious.

I feel all kinds of feelings and all at once right now as I switch between and remember all of the beauty this year has held but also all of the challenge and sadness still happening also in our world and the impacts of this for so many.

Thank you for your beautiful kindness and support this year. I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones peace and love during this time of year, no matter how you are feeling or what is happening. I hope that you have the chance to feel what you feel and be held safely in the support and love of those around you.

It’s okay to feel wonderful right now and it’s also okay to not feel okay. We are all in this together.’💜

18/12/2023

💜 As more people receive their copies of my new children’s book, “Ash Goes to Play Therapy,” it is beautiful to receive such lovely feedback. If you or anyone you know may be interested in purchasing a copy please go to Ashgoestoplaytherapy.com within Australia. Otherwise go to Amazon.co; Amazon.co.uk or Barnesandnoble.com

13/12/2023

💜💚 A huge THANK YOU to Kidsnest- The home of sensory for stocking “Ash Goes to Play Therapy” locally and for this beautiful sharing! I feel so excited to see “Ash Goes to Play Therapy” in such a wonderful store also created with love, passion and the vision and intention of helping children 💞✨ Ash Goes to Play Therapy is available IN STORE NOW for $19. ✨

Here at Kidsnest we pride our selves in being a 1 of a kind business- shop and we love it 👌💕

Individuals with Sensory processing disorder can struggle to go out in public especially into retail stores, as a neurodivergent mum and individual I have created our store to be calm and welcoming for everyone.

I am so proud to say that we are now stocking the amazing Ash goes to play therapy book written by a Lismore play therapist Natalie.

Find them Instore now and online

Pop Instore and have a look at our display copy this book is perfect and easy for children to understand what happens when thinking of starting play therapy

Congrats Natalie and thank your for allowing Kidsnest to be a part of your amazing creation

https://kidsneststore.com.au/collections/ash-goes-to-play-therapy-book