Meet Kara
Director | Creative Arts Counsellor | Play Therapist | Neurologic Music Therapy Allied Professional | Neuro-affirming Educator & Advocate
A strong advocate for neurodivergent identity and relational safety, Kara is the Founding Director of Play & Creative Therapy Bundaberg. As a late-diagnosed, multiply neurodivergent individual and parent to neurodivergent children, she established the practice to create a genuinely neuro-affirming space - one where children, teens, and families are supported without compliance-based approaches, and where creativity, connection, and lived experience guide authentic neurodivergent-affirming therapeutic work.
Kara is deeply passionate about neurodivergent mental health and the impacts of accumulative micro-trauma -often unnoticed by others, yet profoundly affecting self-esteem, wellbeing, and the ability to feel safe in the world. She recognises firsthand how masking, misunderstanding, and chronic stress shape neurodivergent lives, and her work emphasises relational safety, gentle attunement, and honouring natural rhythms as foundations for healing.
Kara loves to learn. With over 25 years’ experience across education, the arts, and therapeutic supports, she combines professional training in Counselling, Play Therapy, Filial Family Therapy, Creative Arts Therapies, Neurodivergent-affirming approaches, Education, Neurologic Music Therapy and is currently studying Disability and Developmental Education. She is proudly Queensland’s first licensed provider of Cothú by AUsome Training, an Autistic-led parent program that celebrates identity and natural ways of being.
Bringing creativity, rhythm, and a touch of ND quirk, Kara creates spaces where masking isn’t needed, stimming is welcome, and families can simply be.
Meet Michelle
Early Childhood Key Worker | Therapeutic Play Practitioner
Michelle is a registered Teacher and early intervention practitioner with a deep commitment to helping children feel safe, confident, and connected in their own skin. With over 15 years of experience in education and child development, she brings a grounded approach to supporting children through social-emotional growth, school readiness, and early developmental skills.
Holding a Bachelor of Education and a Certificate in Play Therapy Studies, Michelle has worked across both mainstream and intensive support settings. At Play & Creative Therapy Bundaberg, she collaborates closely with the therapy team and families to deliver play-based, NDIS-aligned early intervention that is gentle, engaging, and responsive to each child’s needs.
Michelle also brings lived experience parenting to her work and considers it a privilege to walk alongside families through the early years. She believes every child has their own rhythm and is passionate about creating spaces where children feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
Our Team
About
Diversity is not just a buzzword for Play & Creative Therapy Bundaberg; it's a fundamental aspect of everything we do. Not only do we provide an inclusive and affirming environment where everyone, regardless of neurotype, identity, ability, background, or circumstance, feels validated and included, but we live out affirming culture in expression and action.
Each member of our team brings their own unique gifts, perspectives, and lived experiences to the therapeutic space. We come from different backgrounds, modalities, and specialisations—but what we all share is a deep commitment to relationship-based, neuro-affirming, and person-centred care.
We wholeheartedly believe that when people have their unique needs upheld and have permission to be unapologetically themselves, there is no stopping what they can accomplish.
Meet Jo
Creative Arts Counsellor | Therapeutic Play Practitioner | Perinatal Mental Health Therapist
Jo works with children, teens, young adults, and mothers who are carrying heavy stories - from grief, trauma, and anxiety to identity shifts and the unseen overwhelm of life. She offers a calm, grounded space where emotions are welcome, even when words are hard to find.
With formal qualifications in Counselling and specialised training in Perinatal Mental Health, Grief and Loss, and Creative Arts Therapies, Jo’s approach draws from trauma theory, ACT, and body-aware modalities such as sand tray, metaphor, and art-based processes. She is also currently undertaking further study in Play Therapy to deepen her work with children and families.
Jo brings lived experience to every aspect of her work, alongside a background in early childhood education and four years in frontline trauma support. She creates steady, relational spaces where safety and expression can truly emerge.
Jo is especially passionate about supporting women in the postpartum journey and neurodivergent young people exploring identity and connection. She believes healing happens when we feel safe enough to show up exactly as we are.
Modalities of Practice
Our Approach
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Rogerian approach (person-centered therapy)
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Humanistic theory
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Play therapy (child-centered and integrative models)
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Filial Family Therapy (Guerney approach)
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Polyvagal theory
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Attachment theory
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Relational neuroscience
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Family systems
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Solution-focused
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Mindfulness-based
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Creative & Experiential approaches
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The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT)
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Dr Ross Greene's Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) for supporting behaviours
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Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT)
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Neuro-affirming and trauma-informed
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Inspired by the work of Bruce Perry, Dan Seigel, Stephen Porges, Deb Dana, Mona Delahooke, Robyn Gobbel, Ross Greene, Greg Santucci, Kelly Mahler PhD, Guerney and Guerney, Garry Landreth, Dee Ray, Lisa Dion, and many more!