Possum House

Child and Family Counselling and Therapy

About Us

At Possum House we are a team of specialist child and adolescent therapists with extensive experience delivering support to children and their families. We have therapeutic spaces in Warrnambool Portland and Hamilton and offer counselling, play therapy, parenting support and skills development. Possum House has been developed to meet the diverse needs of all children (up to the age of 16) their families and carers, offering age-appropriate and evidence based interventions. 
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Youth Counselling and Therapy 

Young people are offered a range of developmentally appropriate and evidence based interventions including Initiatic Art Therapy, Clayfield Therapy, Digital Play Therapy and mainstream approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR and Humanistic Counselling.


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Play Therapy

Possum House helps children and adolescents to overcome challenges and develop the confidence to reach their true potential.

Younger children are supported through play therapy including Synergetic Play Therapy, Child Centred Play Therapy and Autplay, which can provided individually or include the parent in sessions.



Understanding Behaviours and Parenting Support 

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Possum House understand that the role of parenting can be tricky so we have developed a service based on Collaborative Proactive Solutions that supports parents to:-

Understand their children’s behaviours and develop solutions to difficulties

Develop a healthy attachment between family members

Support adolescents to grow into healthy independent adults


Key Worker Service 
Key Workers under the NDIS are early childhood intervention professional who work alongside your family to support the child’s progress towards achieving their NDIS goals. They can help coordinate other therapists, link in with NDIS and mainstream services and are the first point of contact when things get tricky. The Possum House team of social workers are ideally suited to this role. Providing individual therapy enables us to really get to know your child and family, and identify additional supports which might be helpful. The traditional role of social workers is to work holisitically, naviage complicated support systems and advocate for our clients in a wide range of areas including working with schools and other health providers. Social workers not only understand how to support children with additional needs, but also support families when other things in their world is not going to plan. 

Autism and Neurodiversity

Possum House fully embrace the neurodiversity affirming movement and consequently only use interventions that are supported by the autistic community, do not promote masking and help individuals understand what their brain needs and how to advocate for themselves.

This includes supporting young people up to the age of 16 as well as neurodivergent and neurotypical parents supporting children aged 16 and under. As part of our commitment to the autistic community we use identity first language unless you prefer something different. We also are proud to say we have a number of neurodivergent people employed by Possum House at all levels of the organisation.


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Group Programs

Teen Art Group

The teen art group is a small group for autistic people not attending school to socialise in a supported environment

Gaming Group

Group for autistic 10-13 year olds focusing on gaming both on switches and board games.

Art Group

Art group of autistic children in grades 4- 6 at mainstream school to assist building social connections.

Speaking Engagements
Speaking Engagements
Possum House therapists love sharing our knowlage with the community and fellow professionals.

Recent and upcoming topics include:-

What Your Child Behaviour is Telling You...

Neurodivergence: Many Great Brains

Neurodivergence and Adulting: Navigating work relationships, parenting and the community

Explore Your Stress Responses

Digital Play Therapy with Neurodivergent Tweens

Supporting Autistic Children from a Neurodiversity Affirming Perspective 

Please contact Possum House for speaking engagements and staff development needs, including bespoke training oppertunities developed to meet the needs of your organisation.

Professional Supervision Services

Play Therapy Group Supervision

Group supervision for a maximum of 6 participants provided monthly by a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor, including a range of approaches including Synergetic Play Therapy, Humanistic and directive approaches.

Individual Supervision

Social Worker, Play Therapy and other allied health supervision including career development, case consultation and skills development by a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker.

Autplay Supervision

Group and individual supervision sessions are available to practitioners who have completed Autplay training and are seeking supervision to become a Certified Autplay Therapist. These are provided by a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor.

Possum House Therapy Approaches

Autplay

The AutPlay framework is neurodiversity paradigm informed and designed to help child and play therapists address the mental health needs of neurodivergent children ages 3-18 (autistic children, those with ADHD, social anxiety, sensory differences, learning differences, and developmental and physical disabilities).

Synergetic Play Therapy

Synergetic Play Therapy is a researched-informed model of play therapy combining the therapeutic powers of play with nervous system regulation, interpersonal neurobiology, physics, attachment, mindfulness, and therapist authenticity.

Initiatic Art Therapy

Initiatic Art Therapy introduces a wide range of art making approaches and incorporates Somatic Experiencing, Jungian Depth Psychology, Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology, Gestalt Therapy and mindfulness practice.

Collaborative and Proactive Solutions

CPS helps kids and caregivers solve the problems that are causing those behaviors. The problem solving is collaborative (not unilateral) and proactive (not reactive). Kids do well when they can.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

The aim of ACT is to maximise human potential for a rich, full and meaningful life; to cultivate health, vitality and well-being through mindful values-based living. Accept what is out of your personal control and commit to action that improves and enriches your life.

EMDR

EMDR is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.

Referrals 

NDIS

If you or your child have a plan managed of self managed NDIS plan then you can contact us directly or ask your support coordinator or local area coordinator (LAC) to contact us on your behalf.

VOCAT

Children and adolescents with VOCAT funding can contact us directly to discuss their individual circumstances.

Agency Referrals

Family services, child protection (DFFH), Orange door and other agencies can refer children and adolescents to our service. Please contact us for a referral form. 

Step Thru Care

Possum House provide children age 12 and under with a limited number of sessions fully funded. These are provided based on need. To refer you or your GP can contact Mind by calling 1300 286 463

Team

Nicky Trussler

Senior Therapist / Accredited Mental Health Social Worker / Registered Play Therapy Supervisor

Paulaida Fitzsimmons

Senior Therapist / Accredited Mental Health Social Worker

Semantha Van Jaarsveldt

Social Worker

Rahman Gray

Psychologist

Silvia Mikhail

Social Worker

Sarah Mekaoui

Social Worker

Hollee Chuck

Educator and Provisional Synergetic Play Therapist

Beth Hall

Admin Assistant

Beth does an amazing job organising everyone!

Possum house - Warrnambool

Possum House - Maryknoll Centre - hamilton 

Possum House - 68 percy Street, Portland 

Contact

  • 7 Logans Beach Road, Warrnambool VIC, Australia