Biography
Kate Renshaw is a Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor with the Australasian Play Therapy Association (APPTA) and the British Association of Play Therapy (BAPT). Kate's Bachelor’s degree was completed in Brisbane, at the Queensland University of Technology (BA Psychology). She later studied Art Therapy in Melbourne at La Trobe University (GradDip Art Therapy). She then moved the UK for ten years, where she worked extensively with children and families within education services as a Counsellor and Play Therapist. During her time in the UK she completed a two year Non-Directive Play Therapy professional qualification through the University of York (Post Grad Dip Play Therapy). After gaining experience post-qualifying as a Play Therapist, she undertook several intensive advanced training programs: Filial Therapy, Group Play Therapy, and Therapeutic Assessment. After returning to Melbourne in 2014, she began her PhD research study at Deakin University. She is currently working towards her Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development) with a special interest in therapeutic skills and play therapy in education settings. In her private practice, ‘Play & Filial Therapy’, she has worked therapeutically with children and families in the Melbourne area as well as offering clinical supervision to Play Therapists Australia wide. In 2015 she worked as a Clinical supervisor for Deakin students completing the Master of Child Play Therapy. Kate has also been a board member of APPTA for three years and in 2015 moved from Chair of Policy & Ethics into the role of Vice Chair.
Read more on Kate's profileResearch interests
Play Therapy
Filial Therapy
Working Therapeutically in Education Settings
Teaching interests
Master of Child Play Therapy
Units taught
HSO712 Engaging Children in Play Using Directive Approaches
HSO720 Humanistic Play Therapy
HSO723 Systemic Play Thearpy
Conferences
Renshaw, K. (2013). Therapeutic ways of working in early years' and primary school settings. Conference Paper: Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association: Diversity in Play Therapy, At Seaworld Gold Coast· August 22.
Renshaw, K., & West, L. (2015). Fusion Play Therapy: Adapting Play Therapy principles, practices and techniques to diverse settings. Conference Paper: Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association: Towards the future, At Rydges on Swanston Melbourne· August 10.
Renshaw, K., Parson, J., & Hurt, A., (2015). RxTxT: Engaging adolescents with avoidant attachment behaviours by therapeutic texting. Conference Paper: Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association: Towards the future, At Rydges on Swanston Melbourne· August 10.
Renshaw, K., & Parson, J. (2017). The evolution and emergence of Humanistic Play Therapy in Australia. Conference Paper: Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association: Follow the yellow brick road, Celebrating 10 years of APPTA , At Novotel Rockford Sydney· August 14.
Parson, J., & Renshaw, K. (2017). Queen Elizabeth Centre’s therapeutic garden program: A triadic model for nurturing people through place. Conference Paper: Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association: Follow the yellow brick road, Celebrating 10 years of APPTA , At Novotel Rockford Sydney· August 14.
Professional activities
2015-2017 Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association: Vice Chair, Board of Directors.
2013-2015 Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association: Chair of Policy and Ethics, Board of Directors.
Research groups
Barwon Health - Bumps to Babes
Queen Victoria Centre - Therapeutic Garden