Sami is a dedicated therapeutic social worker and a provisional play therapist with over a decade of experience in working with children, teens and parents providing strengths-based, trauma, attachment and neuro-affirming informed intensive support, alongside advocacy for those in need. Sami has a keen interest in child/teen development and mental health, parenting, neurodiversity, trauma and social and emotional development and has spent the last decade refining her practice in these areas.

Sami employs a range of approaches which supports trauma processing, capacity-building, enhancing children and teens social and communication abilities, emotional regulation, resilience and self-esteem, understanding of the world around them and more. This includes modalities of play therapy and creative art-based techniques for child-centered support and therapy for teens, utilising a range of approaches including CBT, DBT, ACT and art, acknowledging the individuality of each person and their unique pace of growth and learning.

Sami is additionally passionate about supporting parents and caregivers through parent coaching sessions, she understands the stressors families experience and provides tailored support that aligns with family's unique needs.

Sami is AASW registered and is able to provide sessions through NDIS as well as private paying clients.

Sami's qualifications & training include:

• Bachelor degree with Honours in Social Work

• Postgraduate Play Therapy Training

• Senorimotor Art Therapy training

• Advanced Trauma Awareness training

• Postgraduate training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy training (ACT)

• Dialectal Behaviour Therapy training (DBT)

• Emotional Freedom Technique Tapping Therapy training

• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training

• Women are Strong Faciliator

• Certified Infant Massage Instructor

• First Aid + CPR trained

• WWCC

Elvis is a 1-year-old Australian Cobberdog. He is currently working towards joining Sami at the practice to provide emotional support during sessions.

Elvis and Sami are currently undergoing training at Therapy Dogs Australia to ensure he has the skills required to work safely and effectively.

In the future, Elvis will be at sessions to provide support, helping alleviate stress and anxiety, for both adults and children. Australian Cobberdog's have a special fixation on humans and an incredible ability to read expressions and moods and to "be with" emotions. 

Research shows that therapy dogs help relieve psychological and physiological symptoms of distress and support a calm, relaxing environment.

Elvis will be optional at sessions; we understand not everyone is comfortable with dogs.