Amy Saunders
Registered Play Therapist and Reg. Certified Practising Counsellor
M. Child Play Therapy, BECE(Hons).
Amy has worked with children from birth to 13 years old, and their families, in education, care and mental health settings. Amy holds a Master of Child Play Therapy and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and has 15 years of experience.
Amy prides herself on building warm and attuned relationships with children and families and working in a collaborative manner to find solutions that suit individual children and their family units. Amy has worked with children from diverse backgrounds, including children with Autism, ADHD, developmental delays, and difficulties with social development and emotional regulation. She believes in creating spaces for all children to feel heard and valued.
Amy’s approaches include Humanistic Play Therapy, Filial Therapy, Integrative Play Therapy, and The Learn to Play Program. She is trained in 6 Part Story Making and BASIC-Ph, a psychoanalytic story telling tool used to support children and
adults with trauma. She has recently completed a thesis on the use of humour in child therapy. Amy believes that humour is a powerful component of play that has many therapeutic uses. She appreciates and values what children find funny and interesting, creating harmonious and trusting relationships in the playroom. Amy is a Registered Play Therapist with the Australasian Pacific Play Therapy Association and PACFA Reg. Certified Practising Counsellor/Psychotherapist.
Amy also works with Nature Play SA and enjoys being out in nature with school groups and families: having fun and supporting good mental health, wellbeing, and resiliency. She also supports teachers in their practice with Professional Development around children’s development and mental health through play. She resides in South Australia living on Kaurna country with her husband. She enjoys escape rooms and boardgames, good coffee and adventure!