Shauna Cameron

As a Child Therapist who uses play therapeutically I have had the privilege of working in a number of different roles that promote the social and emotional wellbeing of children. My first experience of therapeutic play was in 2009 when I attended an Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy training in Creative PlayTherapy. This was a life changing experience and guided my career significantly over more than a decade. At the time I was working as a Domestic and Family Violence Counsellor in a crisis accommodation support centre. One of the most remarkable experiences I have had in the work field was providing play therapy for children who were traumatised as a result of family violence. The safe place provided by play therapy enabled children to work through their experiences and feelings that were unable to be put into words.

 

My role as a Behaviour Support Advisory teacher included complex case management, conducting functional behaviour assessments, and formulating intervention plans in conjunction with the classroom teacher. One of the many things I learnt in this role was that all behaviours are communication and the challenge is to identify what is being expressed.

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Psychologist, Dr Vanessa Lapoints explains it this way. “I have yet to meet a child who enjoys misbehaving. Rather, I see a child who is working to communicate a message about an unmet need in increasingly desperate and extreme ways”. Ideally, when a child’s needs are met maladaptive behaviours become unnecessary.

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One of my roles as a guidance officer was leading the team who implemented the Positive Behaviour for Learning framework. Working in this space aimed at developing a positive, safe, and supportive learning culture reinforced my interest in understanding how humans grow and function at an optimal level. I also became very interested in the effects of trauma on children and had many professional development opportunities to pursue this.

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The school environment can present all manner of challenges – for both students and teachers.  As a teacher, one thing that I found perplexing was that there was often a focus on sameness rather than respecting individuality. However, as Neurodiversity affirming education becomes a guiding principle, learning differences are seen as just that, rather than the traditional deficit model.

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Now working solely in the play therapy field I was immediately drawn to AutPlay Therapy created by Dr Robert Grant. This neurodiversity affirming framework is designed to help Play Therapists address the mental health challenges of neurodivergent children aged 3-18 (autistic children, those with ADHD, social anxiety, sensory differences, learning differences, and developmental and physical disabilities).

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I have been fortunate to participate in the following professional development opportunities in the last 15 years.

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Professional Development 

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• 2023  Child and Play Therapy – Essentials for effective and sustainable 

• 2023  Understanding Traumatised Children’s Behaviours – Interplay

•  2023  Expressive Play Therapy

• 2019  Storm Training

• 2019  Seasons of Growth

•  2018 Teaching Students who have Suffered Complex Trauma (QUT – 13 hours).

• 2018  ESCM Facilitator Training Refresher.

• 2018  Professional Development with Associate Professor Tim Hannan.

• 2017  WISC-V/WPPSI-IV Training: 

• 2017  Ed-Linq Cross-sectoral Workforce Development Diversity: Mental Distress and Wellbeing.

• 2017   Suicide Risk Continuum Training for Primary Schools, Leadership, Growth Coaching Training, Community of Practice: Complex Case Management.

• 2016   Classroom Profiling refresher, Suicide Response – Headspace, WISC-V/WPPSI-IV training.

• 2015   Suicide Assist, WISC-IV.

• 2014   Solution Focussed Brief Therapy

• 2013   Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training,  Essential Skills for Classroom Management Training, Advanced Classroom Profiling, Student Protection Training, Disability Standards for School Leaders – Online Training, Fabic - Positive Behavioural Interventions.

• 2012   Quality Pedagogy – ICT Certificate.

• 2011   Mediation Training, Responding to a Critical Incident, Course (3 Modules) in Responding to Domestic Violence, Sensory Processing Workshop, “Mad, Bad or Naughty” Modifying Behaviours Workshop, Adult  Mental Health First Aid, First Aid Certificate.

•  2011  5 Favourite Play and Expressive Therapy Techniques, Crossing Cultures  - “ Big Picture – Hidden History” Training

• 2010   A Critical Analysis of Domestic and Family Violence, Narrative Therapy – Couples

•  2009 Working with Clients who use Alcohol and Other Drugs, Napcan LOVEBiTES Training, Counsellors and Family Law Subpoenas, Code of Conduct Training, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People