At Be Centre, the core service we provide is one-on-one Play Therapy for children aged 3-12 years. The children we work with typically experience trauma that is affecting their emotional well-being, behaviour and ability to learn.

Each child is different, and this is reflected in our approach to treatment - rather than recommending a ‘standard’ number of therapy sessions, we work with each child until we achieve the outcomes we’re aiming for. We make sure each session is on the child’s terms and at a pace they are comfortable with. To learn more about Play Therapy, click here.

Be Centre is a registered charity and thanks to our generous funders, we may be able to offer free or partially free services to struggling families.

Sessions are generally held in our purpose-built Play Rooms at our Warriewood centre. Each Play Room is equipped with a range of stimuli, from dolls and trucks to costumes. This gives children plenty of scope in how they choose to play, interact and communicate. The therapy process starts with a 1.5-hour Initial Parent Consultation to discuss the child’s background, current situation, and needs. From there, our therapists develop a personalised plan, usually consisting of weekly 30-40 minute sessions. Consistency is key, so these are held at the same time each week, with the same therapist.

We measure outcomes by evaluating children before, during and after the therapy program using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (the most recognised tool for assessing children’s mental health) and parent surveys and feedback. This helps us ensure our programs are effective and allows us to continually improve them over time.
Our “Intensive” Play Therapy program is an opportunity for our therapists to work with a child more frequently that the typical one session per week. The frequency of the sessions is based on your family’s needs and could be every day for a period of 10-12 days. One benefit of this program is that it makes Play Therapy accessible for children and families living in rural and regional areas of NSW, who still prefer receiving therapy in-person.

At times, intensive Play Therapy is held in collaboration with Royal Far West Manly and forms one part of their holistic support plan, assessment and treatment for children living in rural communities, which may also include psychology, speech, and occupational therapy. All of this is coordinated by Royal Far West, who also provides accommodation for families for the duration
Intensive delivery version
Tele-Play Therapy sessions are delivered by our therapists via telehealth, in the "virtual playroom". With support from the carer the Play Therapist creates a safe and confidential space where the child can explore and express their feelings and experiences using resources available in their home as well as online resources provided by the Therapist.

Tele-Play Therapy can be offered when there are challenges to accessing in-person therapy, for example due to geographical location, transportation or physical/mental health conditions. Important considerations in offering Tele Play Therapy include client access to a strong, stable internet connection, an appropriate device and a confidential space in the home.
Art Club is a small-group art program run by Karen Atkins, an experienced and award-winning artist/teacher. The workshops are held every Wednesday 3:30-5:30pm during term time at Be Centre. All resources and light refreshments will be provided. This program assists children who have recently completed Hear Me Play in safely and gradually transitioning out of therapy. In Art Club, children learn new art techniques, receive individual art instruction, develop and explore their creativity and self-expression, and build confidence.
For children who have been receiving one-to-one Play Therapy and are ready to progress only*
Good Planet Studio is a group Art Therapy program which caters to children aged 6-12 who struggle with anxiety, social challenges, or difficulties with self-regulation.

The program supports children to develop skills, enhance awareness and gain a more positive sense of self through the medium of art and integration of nature-based metaphors. Our experienced Be Centre Therapists support the group towards processing challenging feelings, improving their self-perception and increasing feelings of self-efficacy.

The group setting is a powerful environment for change and growth, where children can experience a greater sense of belonging, learn adaptive skills and feel more positive about themselves.
LEGO®-Based Therapy is a playful, structured group intervention that helps children develop social and communication skills while working together to build LEGO® creations.

At Be Centre, we offer small group LEGO®-Based Therapy sessions designed for children who need support with social confidence, teamwork, flexible thinking, and emotional regulation. This therapy is beneficial for any child who may find social interactions challenging or overwhelming.

Our LEGO®-Based Therapy programs are run in small, age-appropriate groups and children are assigned specific roles—Builder, Engineer, and Supplier—which they rotate throughout the program. These roles encourage collaboration, clear communication, turn-taking, problem-solving, and peer support.

As the group works toward shared building goals, children learn how to navigate conflict, express ideas, negotiate rules, and celebrate teamwork in a fun and engaging environment. The therapist gently guides social interactions, supports emotional regulation, and encourages reflective conversations around successes and challenges.

Play Therapy is often more effective when a parent/carer is involved and supported. We have developed a number of programs with this in mind, each focused on a different topic. All our programs are run by experienced parent counsellors and aim to build trust and understanding between parents/carers and the kids they’re supporting. The programs are held either on a one-to-one basis or in a group format.

Need to Play is a free online course created by our therapists at Be Centre which aims to improve your understanding of why play is so important for children's mental wellbeing and to motivate you to incorporate play into your world and your child's.

The course is designed for any parent or carer with a child under 12 years old. However, any adult will find it interesting and can benefit from it. The full course takes around 45 minutes and consists of 5 modules, short quizzes, and downloadable activities.
What you'll learn

There are five modules starting with 'what is play' right through to 'recognising the connection between play and difficult experiences'

The aim of this course is to provide you with a new understanding of the importance of play for your child's brain and overall development, so you are motivated to incorporate play into your daily routines with your child

The power of play cannot be underestimated as a way for children to express themselves and process big feelings. You'll learn why it is through play that children are able to process difficult and challenging experiences

You'll learn about the different types of play and on the way, you'll build your own confidence to incorporate more play time with your child

You'll also learn what signs to look out for that might indicate your child needs some additional support
Start the Course
It is important for adults to understand the various ways that children communicate – after all, this knowledge enables you to work with your child to build their social skills and resilience.

In Tuning into Kids, we help parents and carers to:

Understand and manage your own emotions

Improve communication with your child

Gain a better understanding of your child

Help your child learn to manage their emotions

Prevent behavioural problems

Teach children how to deal with conflict
After infancy, a child’s most dramatic development happens in adolescence – and through this course, parents and carers can learn skills to help their own teen navigate this tricky time. The main focus is on reducing conflict within the home and helping make teens more comfortable talking about difficulties they’re facing. As well as helping you create a more harmonious home, this program can even help you reduce your teen’s risk of mental health difficulties.

In Tuning into Teens, you will learn to help your teen:

Have greater success in making friends and managing conflict.

Concentrate better at school.

Calm themselves when upset or angry.

Manage change and challenges.

Be more aware, assertive and strong when facing peer pressure.

Have more stable and satisfying relationships as adults.
In addition to the successful Tuning into Kids/Teens series, Be Centre is delighted to offer The Circle of Security Parenting™ (COSP) program to supplement the support available to parents and caregivers. In our experience, whilst similar to Tuning in to Kids/Teens in providing emotional support, COSP may be more relevant for parents/caregivers of younger children.

In Circle of Security, you will learn valuable skills and insights to:

Understand your child’s emotional world by learning to read their emotional needs.

Support your child’s ability to successfully manage emotions.

Enhance the development of your child's self esteem.

Honour your innate wisdom and desire for your child to be secure.
Filial Play Coaching empowers parents or carers to become therapeutic agents in the treatment process of their child, helping to strengthen the parent-child relationship and promote emotional healing. A trained Play Therapist teaches parents how to conduct structured play sessions with their children. Through play, children express emotions and experiences they may find difficult to articulate verbally, while parents learn techniques to respond empathetically, build trust, and foster secure attachment.

Filial Play Therapy is particularly effective in addressing behavioral issues and trauma, and enhancing family dynamics, empowering parents to become active participants in their child's emotional growth and development.

Our Programs

At Be Centre, everything we do is focused on the children we support. The majority of our programs are for children, but we also offer supporting programs for parents and carers whose children are receiving Play Therapy.

To register your interest for one of our programs, please click here.