Play Therapy Supervision
The Queensland Institute of Play Therapy is proud to offer supervision by a team of Registered Play Therapist Supervisors.
Sarah Harwood
Sarah Harwood is a compassionate and experienced play therapy supervisor whose therapeutic orientation is rooted in a humanistic approach. Believing in the power of a non-authoritative style, Sarah creates a safe space for her supervisees to explore, reflect, and discover their own solutions. As a facilitator, she listens without judgment, acknowledges experiences with empathy, and avoids prescriptive advice or quick-fix techniques.
Sarah's therapeutic approach is primarily relational and integrates multiple frameworks, including humanistic theory, Internal Family Systems, family systems, developmental attachment theory, the Demartini Method, developmental trauma, interpersonal neurobiology, and child-centered and Synergetic Play Therapy. This rich blend allows Sarah to provide deeply attuned and individualized support to her supervisees, fostering both personal and professional growth.
A perpetual student of life, Sarah is committed to her own self-growth and mastery, recognizing that her ongoing personal journey enhances her capacity to serve and heal with greater empathy and wisdom. Sarah's dedication to self-awareness and authenticity inspires those she mentors to develop their own reflective practice and deepen their connection to the therapeutic process.
As a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Supervisor, Sarah brings expertise, warmth, and a relational focus to her work, empowering therapists to navigate the complexities of clinical practice with confidence and care.
Helen Younan-Barrett
Helen, as the Founder & CEO of The Family Systems Hub, is profoundly committed to advancing consciousness, healing, and self-mastery in children and parents affected by adversity and intergenerational trauma. Her professional journey that spans over 20 years, has led her to work across the lifespan with the last 10 years specialising in the field of child psychotherapy, family therapy and personal development.
Through her private client consultations, supervisions and teachings, she shares a holistic and integrated lens along with practical tools that foster greater reflective awareness, self-governance and self mastery.
Helen’s therapeutic approach is primarily relational, drawing from a blend of gestalt psychotherapy, family constellations, filial therapy, astrology, developmental attachment theory, the Demartini Method, developmental trauma, interpersonal neurobiology and child centered & synergetic play therapy. A perpetual student of life, Helen is dedicated to her own journey of self-growth and mastery, recognising its pivotal role in serving and healing humanity with greater empathy and wisdom.
APTA – Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor (RPT-S)
AASW – Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)
Jane Parkinson
Jane Parkinson (she/her) is a Play Therapist & Supervisor (APTA), a Clinical Counsellor (PACFA), a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist & Supervisor®, as well as an EMDR Practitioner.
Over the past 10+ years, Jane’s clinical experience has primarily been in the complex trauma space, supporting women and children who have experienced family violence. Jane’s therapeutic lens is attachment focused, trauma-responsive and neuro-affirming. Utilising the transformative power of play as a therapeutic tool, Jane’s ethos is that healing and growth can only occur when a safe space is created for children and their families to show up as their true, authentic selves.
With a passion for working with children aged 3 -10 years, Jane has developed a special interest in supporting foster, kinship & adoptive families with a focus on integrating early life trauma. Jane’s work with parents and caregivers is a strong focus of the therapeutic process and is always collaborative and consultative. As a supervisor, Jane draws on her strong therapeutic experience, in combination with the values that stem from her work as a clinician herself; to guide fellow therapists along their own path of self-discovery in a safe and supportive space (where you get to show up as your authentic self in a curious and playful way!).
Jane is both a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist & Supervisor, & a Registered Supervisor with the Australian Play Therapists Association, having recently undertaken additional Play Therapy supervision training with QIPT under Sarah Harwood. She is committed to promoting best practices, ethical standards, and encouraging ongoing professional development within the Australian Play Therapy community. Outside of the playroom, Jane is based in Melbourne, Australia, and enjoys all the benefits of living 10 minutes from the beach including regulating through outdoor exercise, attending live theatre, and dining out with her 2 young-adult daughters.
Jane is excited to be joining the QIPT team of supervisors, and to have the opportunity to guide emerging Play Therapists on their learning journey!
APTA – Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor (RPT-S)
PACFA Reg Clinical Counsellor