Waves Play Therapy
A mobile service operating across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and surrounding areas.
Play therapy is to children, what talk therapy is to adults.
Principal Therapist
Kathryn Wade-Rose
Kathryn is a compassionate Child-Centred Play Therapist with over 20 years of experience working in diverse educational settings, including rural, remote, and city locations. With a background as a qualified Early Childhood Teacher, Kathryn has developed extensive expertise in supporting children who have experienced trauma, those with neurodiverse diagnoses, and children with speech and language delays.
She firmly believes in the family as the child’s first teacher and works collaboratively with families to create meaningful therapeutic interventions. Kathryn views play as the most effective form of communication for children, using it as a tool to help children process emotions, build resilience, and thrive. Her approach is rooted in empathy, understanding, and a deep commitment to the well-being of every child.
‘Play gives them a language when they don’t have the words.
Child centred play therapy provides kids with the time tools and opportunity to work through their confusion, frustration and limitations.’
Dr Brenna Hicks
Acknowledgement of Country
Growing up on GuriNgai country, I explored the bushland that surrounded my home, before moving to spend time exploring the vastly different lands of the Wiradjuri people. I am now lucky to call Awabakal country, on which I live, work, learn and play, my home.
I acknowledge the Awabakal people as the Traditional Custodians of these land and waters and am grateful for the way they cared for the plants and animals for thousands of years, ensuring it remains the beautiful place where I connect with others today.
I show my respect for the world’s oldest living culture and am inspired by the way all individuals’ strengths were acknowledge and had an important role to play in community. I pay homage to this tradition when I sit with children to create a space of unconditional acceptance in our sessions.
And extend this respect to the Elders past and present, as I continue to learn my part in how I am connected to their story.