“Hi. I’m Natalie. I’m a dramatherapist and the Founder of Playful Minds. At Playful Minds, we help kids deal with life’s serious stuff by offering them a space where they can be creative, play, tell stories, act it out and use their imagination. A space where they feel safe to explore and express what cannot be said. I love helping children feel heard, valued, connected, empowered and understood and to provide support when they’re dealing with big and overwhelming emotions.””
about natalie
I’ve always loved a good story. I’m fascinated by people and what makes them tick.
I believe in the innate ability of storytelling and play to foster creativity, imagination, learning, insight and personal growth.
And I love to keep a sense of play and creativity in my own life. I’ve always been interested in the therapeutic aspects of drama.
Kids need time to play. They’re not mini adults. In fact playing helps them learn and deal with life’s challenges. So when I cottoned on to the fact that I could make a career out of storytelling, play, drama and helping people at the same time, my dream career began to take shape. That’s when I learned that dramatherapy was a unique way of looking at life through a creative lens to better understand our behaviour and make sense of the world around us.
As a listener and life-long learner, I knew instinctively that dramatherapy would be an incredible way to empower children and help them express their emotions safely.
And as a Mum of two girls, my favourite moments are the ones where I get to explore the imaginary worlds of my children and help them discover who they are through the pure joy and invention of play.
When I’m not exploring the world of stories, I love being out in nature and swimming in cold, cold water. (As in freezing. Arctic kind of cold).
the serious credentials
I don’t just like performing and telling stories (although I do really love that stuff too).
I’m proud to have obtained my Masters degree in Dramatherapy from Roehampton University in London, UK.
I’m also a registered dramatherapist with ANZATA (Australia and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association) and the British Association of Dramatherapists in the UK.
When I am not working at Playful Minds, I spend the rest of my week leading and managing an adolescent mental health service.
I’m an active performer and trainer of Playback Theatre, an improvised form of storytelling and I’ve performed in Australia and overseas.
During my studies in the UK, I always knew I wanted to create my own dramatherapy business.
I always believed in empowering children to use drama and play to express their emotions and develop strong coping skills.
That’s why I created Playful Minds.
who i've worked with
I’ve been working in this field for over 10 years now…wow time has flown!. Today in my practice I support children experiencing emotional difficulties, adults diagnosed with autism and adolescents with mental health challenges.
Over the years I have worked in early intervention psychosis and before that I was working in a therapeutic centre for children who had experienced abuse, neglect, grief and loss. I’ve had first-hand experience in dealing with emotional trauma.
I’ve supported adolescents in dealing with mental health issues and challenges associated with eating disorders.
I’ve worked one-on-one with adults battling mental health challenges, both in the community and in forensic hospitals, as well as facilitating group therapy sessions.
I’ve helped reintegrate excluded young people into the education system by developing dynamic creative programs.
I’ve facilitated drama programs for children and adults with learning difficulties.
With all these clients across different settings, I’ve harnessed the power of play and creativity to reconnect them with themselves and with others.
how playful minds can help
Playful Minds helps kids deal with life's serious stuff.
We take storytelling and play seriously. We use creative approaches to therapy to make sure your child feels, valued, heard and understood. Through our one-on-one therapy and group workshops, we help your kids learn how to cope with their emotions in a supportive and caring environment.
We understand every child is unique with a unique set of challenges and problems so it’s not a cookie-cutter therapy program. We use a client-centred approach and tailor our therapy to empower each and every individual. We’re here to empower your children.
And we know it takes a village to raise a child, so we believe strongly in community and connection. We work closely with families, schools and the wider community to help your children flourish and grow into well-adjusted, happy adults.
Our vision is to create a resilient generation of bright minds, healthy hearts, creative souls and strong imaginations.
I’d love to help you and your children express their emotions in a positive way. Click here to find out more about our services and programs.