Biography summary
Dr Judi Parson is a paediatric qualified Registered Nurse, Play Therapist and Senior Lecturer in Play Therapy. She is the Discipline Leader for Play Therapy in the School of Health and Social Development based at the Waterfront Campus, Geelong.
She has experienced a clinically diverse nursing career which has taken her across a number of Australian states and to the United Kingdom. She has practiced in various general and specialty fields including, transplant care, radiology, child and adolescent health and acute paediatrics. Her doctoral thesis was titled “Integration of procedural play for children undergoing cystic fibrosis treatment: A nursing perspective”.
Judi’s PhD then lead her to investigate further play therapy knowledge and techniques. She completed her MA Play Therapy (with Distinction), at Roehampton University London, United Kingdom, to become a fully qualified play therapist. She has been actively involved in the development of play therapy in Australia and a co-founding director of the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA). Judi is also a founding member of the International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations (IC-PTA).
Judi is an international presenter, author and enjoys teaching into the Master of Child Play Therapy and researching in the field of psychosocial health and wellbeing children with a particular interest in Medical Play Therapy. She also supervisors play therapists as well as Higher Degree Research students in health and play therapy. Judi maintains her clinical practice with a small caseload of clients.
Research interests
Child Play Therapy is a developmentally sensitive, psychosocial mental health modality to support children and their families.
Thematic expression of humanistic skills within play therapy and supervision sessions.
Paediatric (Hospital, Medical and Procedural) Play Therapy techniques and technologies to investigate optimal therapetuic effect.
Digital tele-health (tele-play therapy) including use of therapeutic apps and virtual reality for children and adolescents.
Affiliations
Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency: Registered Nurse
Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association: Registered Play Therapist / Supervisor
British Association of Play Therapists: Full member
Association 4 Play Therapy (USA): International member
Teaching interests
Master of Child Play Therapy
Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play
Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play
Units taught
Unit Chair
HSO725 Therapeutic Medical Play
HSO724 Play Therapy Research Thesis
HSH731 / HSH732 Topic Supervisor
Clinical Supervisor
HSO720 Humanistic Play Therapy
HSO723 Systemic Play Therapy
Knowledge areas
Child Play Therapy and Medical Play Therapy
Childhood development and psychopathology
Qualitative research methods: Phenomenology, Autoethnography.
Conferences
Conference Presentations
Parson, J. A. (2021) “Play Therapy in Medical Field” Presented at the Online Conference “Children’s Development and Healing” in collaboration with Wuhan University, China, and Hong Kong Shue Yan University. November 20.
Dean, B. J. & Parson, J. A. (2021) Teachers PUP Talk (webinar) Teachers as playful academics online webinar. Denmark. November 1.
Brickle, R., Renshaw, K.L. & Parson, J.A (2021) “Cross Cultural play therapy for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Presented online at the British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT) Annual Conference. September 24.
Parson, J.A (2021) “Creating moments of playful engagement through consciously connecting and reflecting” Presented at the ECMS Early Childhood Conference – Curiosity, Connection, and Creativity: Re-discovering Joy. Online - Melbourne Victoria September 1.
Parson, J. A. (2021) “Medical play therapy”. Presented to the Children’s Therapy Centre, Online - Ireland April 2
Parson, J. A. (2021) “Therapeutic play in medical and health care settings”. Presented to Online - NSW Health. March 26
Parson, J. & Stagnitti, K. (2018) “Play assessment informs therapy for children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)”. Presented at the 13th international conference on child and adolescent psychopathology conference. Kuching, Sarawak (on Borneo Island) Malaysia. August, 6-8.
Parson, J. & Renshaw, K. (2017) “The therapeutic garden: A triadic model for nurturing people through place”. Presented at the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association Conference: Follow the Yellow Brick Road, Celebrating 10 years of APPTA Novotel, Darling Harbour, Sydney. August, 13-15.
Renshaw, K. & Parson, J. (2017) “The Evolution & Emergence of Humanistic Play Therapy in Australia”. Presented at the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association Conference: Follow the Yellow Brick Road, Celebrating 10 years of APPTA Novotel, Darling Harbour, Sydney. August, 13-15.
Parson, J. & Stone, J. (2017). “Introducing the virtual sandtray app” Presented at the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association Conference. Follow the yellow brick road: Celebrating 10 years. Novotel, Darling Harbour, Sydney August, 13-15.
Parson, J. & Cole, B. (2017) “The use of a virtual sandtray app for children and young people in hospital: A pilot study”. Presented at the ACLTA Conference Sydney: March,15-16.
Parson, J. (2017) Puppet play therapy: Integrating Theory Evidence and Action (ITEA). Presented at the International Play Therapy Study Group, Champneys Forest Mere, England. UK. June, 24.
Parson, J. (2016) Bringing puppets to life in Play Therapy. Bringing theory into practice. British Association of Play Therapists, BAPT conference. Aston Centre. Birmingham, UK. June, 25.
Parson, J. & Hickson, S. (2016) Online interactive supervision for play therapy. British Association of Play Therapists, BAPT conference. Aston Centre. Birmingham, UK. June, 24.
Parson, J. (2015) Play Therapy for children requiring medical procedures: Grand Rounds presentation. Goulburn Valley Hospital. Shepparton. Victoria. November 11.
Masterclasses
Play Therapy Clinical Supervision 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021,
Foundations concepts and skills for child play therapy, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Engaging adolescents in therapeutic play and expressive arts. 2018
Professional activities
2013 - current Editorial Board: British Journal of Play Therapy
2017- current Board member. Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association: Research & Special Projects Chair. International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations Repesentative (IC-PTA)
2013 - 2015 Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association: Chair, Board of Directors.
2007 - 2013 Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association: Board member
Awards
Highest Academic Acheivement Award - Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Child and Adolescent health - Advanced paediatrics) ACU
Australian Postgraduate Award
Publications
Evidencing the Therapeutic Powers of Play to Understand the Mechanism of Change in Filial Therapy
L Griffin, J Parson
(2023), International Journal of Play Therapy, C1
Heather Coull, Judi Parson
(2023), Vol. 17, pp. 6-21, British Journal of Play Therapy, Bristol, Eng., C1
J Parson, B Dean, N Hadiprodjo
(2023), pp. 1-208, Integrating Therapeutic Play into Nursing and Allied Health Practice: A Developmentally Sensitive Approach to Communicating with Children, A7
Tele-play therapy: Principles of remote interventions using the therapeutic powers of play
K Renshaw, J Parson
(2022), pp. 69-95, Play Therapy and Expressive Arts in a Complex and Dynamic World: Opportunities and Challenges Inside and Outside the Playroom, London, Eng., B1
Play-Based Intergenerational Programs and their outcomes for children: A scoping review
Phillipa Westwood, Judi Parson, Bridget Sarah
(2022), Vol. 16, pp. 36-54, British Journal of Play Therapy, London, Eng., C1
Therapeutic Life Story Work Barwon Pilot Evaluation
James Lucas, jesse Velik, Loey Matthews, Kathleen Brady, Rhiannon Breguet, Judi Parson
(2022), Geelong, Vic., A6
Can children's play themes be assessed to inform play therapy practice?
B Sarah, J Parson, K Renshaw, K Stagnitti
(2021), Vol. 26, pp. 257-267, Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, England, C1
Pretend play ability in preschool-aged children with an acquired brain injury
A Thorne, K Stagnitti, J Parson
(2021), Vol. 68, pp. 407-418, Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Chichester, Eng., C1
Playing in the field: scoping the therapeutic powers of play for nature play therapy
Megan Ellard, Judith Parson
(2021), Vol. 15, pp. 42-65, The British Journal of Play Therapy, Bristol, Eng., C1
Therapeutic Life Story Work Barwon Pilot Evaluation: Interim Report 2020
James Lucas, Loey Matthews, Kathleen Brady, Rhiannon Breguet, Judi Parson
(2020), Geelong, Vic., A6
Evaluating a supported nature play programme, parents' perspectives
T Ward, S Goldingay, J Parson
(2019), Vol. 189, pp. 270-283, Early child development and care, Abingdon, Eng., C1
J Edwards, J Parson
(2019), Vol. 63, pp. 77-83, Arts in psychotherapy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
A Tilbrook, T Dwyer, K Reid-Searl, J Parson
(2017), Vol. 22, pp. 73-79, Nurse education in practice, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
J Edwards, J Parson, W O'Brien
(2016), Vol. 25, pp. 133-145, International journal of play therapy, Washington, D.C., C1
Treating children with psychosis: an integrative play therapy approach
E Green, L Fazio-Griffith, J Parson
(2015), Vol. 24, pp. 162-176, International journal of play therapy, Washington, D.C., C1
Play in the hospital environment
J Parson
(2009), pp. 132-143, Play as therapy : assessment and therapeutic interventions, London, England, B1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
No Funded Projects at Deakin found
Supervisions
Kate Renshaw
Thesis entitled: Development and Efficacy of the Teacher's Optimal Relationship Approach (TORA)
Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development
Chloe Messner
Thesis entitled: Bush Kinder Nature Play Experience & Children¿s Learning and Development
Master of Applied Science (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development
Adrienne Thorne
Thesis entitled: Pretend Play and Executive Function in Children with Acquired Brain Injury
MAppSc, School of Health and Social Development
Julia Mason
Thesis entitled: Occupational Therapists' Practice with Complex Trauma: A Profile and Perspectives
Master of Applied Science (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development