Hello, and welcome.
I am so glad you are here!
Hi! I’m Jessica Sharrock.
I’m the Director at I Heart Therapy, and your child’s play therapy bestie!
I am a Brisbane-based Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with a Masters in Child Play Therapy, and I have over 10 years of experience in working with little hearts and minds. Above all, as a mum of two, I’m passionate about creating a safe space for individuals and families to connect and flourish. I’m here to be a friend, cheerleader, teacher and advocate for your child - and you!
I provide counselling, play therapy and therapeutic supports that children and adolescents enjoy and connect with, and which are highly effective in helping them to develop the skills they need for a happy, healthy life. I prioritise close collaboration with each child’s family and other important people in their lives, working together as partners throughout our time together.
My practice is based in East Brisbane, Queensland.
Our Services
Child-Centred Play Therapy
Child-centred play therapy is a child-led, non-directive therapeutic approach for children aged 3 to 11 years who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioural or developmental difficulties - including meltdowns, experiences of trauma, low mood, anxiety, grief, hyperactivity, inattention and/or oppositional behaviours.
‘Learn to Play’ Therapy
‘Learn to Play’ therapy is a directive therapeutic approach for children aged 3 to 8 years who are having difficulties with their solo or social play. It is a hands-on, fun and engaging therapeutic approach which aims to develop a child’s ability to engage in pretend play spontaneously and joyfully.
Adolescent Counselling
and Therapy
We provide young people aged 12 to 17 years with a safe and comfortable space in which they can talk about, explore and make sense of their feelings and experiences, including through the use of talk therapy, coping strategies, learning new skills and problem-solving techniques.
Parent Support and
Filial Therapy
We provide parents and carers of children experiencing social, emotional, behavioural or developmental difficulties with support, including through Filial Therapy, which teaches parents simple play therapy techniques to use with their children to help them overcome difficulties while building their own confidence.
Adult Counselling
and Therapy
We provide adults with a safe and comfortable space in which they can talk about and explore their feelings and experiences, and address difficulties like depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, family and relationship challenges and adjustment to life changes.
"Play is a rite of passage for childhood - it’s how they make sense of their world and others. It is how they learn, test and practice.
Play is a place of freedom, a place of creativity and, most importantly, a place of joy."
- Jessica Sharrock, I Heart Therapy Director
Our Approach
First, let’s get the ball rolling - click here to drop me a line, or call me on 0421 474 590, so we can have a chat about your child’s needs.
From there, I will…
Set up a time for an ‘intake’ session (just for us grown-ups);
Discuss a therapeutic support plan with you;
Get to know your child and their strengths and challenges;
See them regularly for fun, engaging sessions; and
Meet or chat with you regularly to discuss their progress.
What is play therapy?
Is it right for my child?
Play is incredibly important - it’s how a child learns, communicates and makes sense of their world!
Jessica provides child-centred play therapy and ‘Learn to Play’ therapy. Both approaches provide children with a welcoming, safe and engaging play space, and the careful selection of toys and creation of play invitations tailored to their individual interests.
Both approaches help to promote a child’s resilience and coping skills, supporting them to develop:
New ways of expressing feelings;
Confidence, self-esteem and a positive sense of self;
Problem-solving and creativity skills;
Communication and social skills; and
Connections with friends and peers.
Child-centred play therapy is a non-directive approach, where a child is gently encouraged to express their feelings, thoughts and experiences through play. Jessica, as their Play Therapist, responds with warmth, empathy and unconditional positive regard, accepting their invitation for her to join them in their play and world. As the child begins to feel safe in the play space and relationship, they will begin to express and explore their emotionally meaningful experiences - a process which occurs when the child is ready and at their pace. This approach is suitable for children experiencing a range of social, emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties.
‘Learn to Play’ therapy is a directive approach, where a child is supported to learn to spontaneously self-initiate and participate joyfully in solo and social play. Jessica, as their Play Therapist, teaches children to sequence their play actions logically, use their imagination to pretend an object is something else, engage with a character like a doll or teddy outside of themselves, role play and socially interact using play. This approach is suitable for children who find play difficult, including those who don’t know how to initiate play, can be overly rigid or inflexible, struggle to regulate themselves and/or have a language, intellectual or developmental delay impacting their play skills.
Fees and Rebates
-
Jessica provides therapy for plan-managed and self-managed NDIS participants.
Parent intake sessions:
$242.48 (1.25 units/hours)Therapy sessions:
$193.99 per unit/hourReports, letters, meetings etc:
$193.99 per unit/hourTravel fees:
Varying, based on session location.
All charges align with the current NDIS table of costs, with no ‘out of pocket’ charge for participants. A service agreement is signed by each participant (or their parent/caregiver) which outlines all fees and charges. -
$225 for the initial parent/carer intake session
$200 for each therapy session
Receipts are available for private health claiming purposes. -
$225 for the initial parent/carer intake session
$200 for each therapy sessionA Medicare rebate of about $85 is available for up to 10 sessions (including the parent/carer intake session) per calendar year with a valid GP or Paediatrician referral.