Empowering children, young people and families to grow through creativity, play and connection

At Creative Growth Therapies

We provide personalised therapy services to support your well-being, development and mental health. Visit us for a safe space to grow and heal.

About Me.

Hi, I'm Lucinda, welcome to Creative Growth Therapies. I direct a boutique and specialised therapeutic service on the Central Coast of NSW offering children's and young people's Occupational therapy, Play therapy, Creative arts therapy, Parenting support and Clinical Supervision.

I focus on helping you to do the things you need and want to do each day, and importantly, I meet you where you are at in your journey with this. I seek to embody compassion, love, creativity and joy in how I support you, as I believe there is a need for more of this on our gorgeous planet.

My extensive training and experience within the public and private sectors allows me to support you holistically; drawing on multiple frameworks, including being family-centred, developmentally appropriate, attachment-informed, trauma sensitive, neuro-affirming, and personally and professionally knowledgeable about how the nervous system works. I value and welcome all parts of you, and look forward to working together.

Lucinda has been working with children and adults since 1996. She initially trained in Occupational Therapy. This provided a foundation for understanding the therapeutic value of occupation, that is, how the activities we do each day across our roles and environments, supports our spiritual, physical, and emotional health. Lucinda worked in early intervention, schools, private practice, and child/adolescent mental health early in her career. She spent time working at the Children’s Hospital Westmead, government tertiary consultative disability behaviour support and mental health clinical coordination roles. More recently, Lucinda has worked in foster and residential care and has supervised on the Master of Child Play Therapy course for Deakin University. Lucinda has developed specialisations in Autism, intellectual disability with co-existing mental ill-health, sensory processing difficulties, complex trauma; and works with individuals, dyads, families, and caregiving systems. She has qualifications in CBT, sensory integration and training in systemic family therapy. Lucinda undertook formal study in directive and non-directive Play therapy, Filial Play therapy, Jungian Sandplay and Creative Arts Supervision. She has more recently studied the Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping) and Theraplay® in Australia and continues her learning in these areas. Lucinda believes in lifelong learning and continues her professional development through formal coursework, supervision, and self-reflection. She is a published author in Play Therapy, Jungian Sandplay therapy, Systemic interventions, and Sensory processing.

Education

Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) (University of Sydney) (1996)

Masters of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy Research) (University of Sydney) (2006)

Post Graduate Diploma of Practice-Based Play Therapy (Canterbury Christchurch University, UK) (2012)

Post Qualifying Certificate in Clinical Supervision (for Play and Creative Arts Therapies) (Play Therapy International) (2013)

Qualifications

Registered Occupational Therapist (AHPRA, no. OCC0001718076)

Medicare endorsed Mental Health Occupational Therapist (Occupational Therapy Australia, Medicare)

Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ (RPT-S™) (Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association)

Certified Play Therapist and Certified Supervisor of Play and Creative Arts Therapists (PTI)

Intermediate Theraplay ®Practitioner (The Theraplay Institute)

Certified AutPlay® Therapy Provider (American Play Therapy Association)

Advanced Jungian Sandplay training - Sandplay Therapy Candidate (International Society for Sandplay Therapy)

Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping) Student Practitioner (Evidence Based EFT/ International Institute for Complementary Therapists)

Sensory Integration/Sensory Profile trained (University of Sydney/Occupational Therapy Australia)

Publications

Mora, L., Van Sebille, K., & Neill, L. (2018). An evaluation of play therapy for children and young people with intellectual disability. Research and practice in intellectual and developmental disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1080/23297018.2018.1442739 Mora, L. (2017). Sandplay with young people with Intellectual Disability. In B.Turner (Ed.), The International Handbook of Sandplay Therapy (pp88-116). UK: Routledge. Mora, L., Williams, C., & Wainwright, D. (2017). Self-care: The journey along the yellow brick road. Australasian Pacific Play Therapy Conference, Sydney, August. Pidgeon, K., Parson, J., Mora, L., Anderson, J., Stagnitti, K., & Mountain, V. (2016). Play Therapy. In E. Day and C. Noble (Eds.), Counselling and Psychotherapy: Reflections on practice. Australia: Oxford University Press. Mora, L. (2015). Connecting with children and young people. The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Occupational Therapy Departments 2015 Occupational Therapy Symposium: Making connections in paediatric OT, Sydney, October. Mora, L., & O’Loughlin, N. (2015). The starfish and the babushka: A shared supervision experience. Australasian Pacific Play Therapy Conference, Melbourne, August. Mora, L. (2015). Cockroaches, bins, ladders and bombs: Using EMDR and therapeutic play to conquer the fears of a young person with Intellectual Disability. Australasian Pacific Play Therapy Conference, Melbourne, August. Chapparo, C., Hinitt, J., Mora, L. (2014). Using a sensory protocol to improve functional and behavioural outcomes for children with autism. 16th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Yokohama: 16th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. Mora, L. (2013). Play therapy: Programme evaluation findings of a creative arts intervention for children with intellectual disability and emotional and behavioural difficulties. Australasian Society of Intellectual Disability Conference, Sydney, November. Mora, L. (2013). Play therapy: A creative arts intervention for children with intellectual disability and emotional and behavioural difficulties. Australasian Pacific Play Therapy Conference, Gold Coast, August. Donelly, M., Mora, L., Rhodes, P., Whatson, L, Dikian, J., Hansson, A., Brearley, K., & Franic, T. (2013). Systemic Consultation: Promoting reflective practice among clinicians who are responding to the complex behavioural support needs of people with intellectual disability. Occupational Therapy Australia: 25th National Conference, Adelaide, July. Rhodes, P., Donelly, M., Whatson, Brearley, K., Dikian, J., Hansson, A., Franic, T., & Mora, L. (2013). Beyond the Impasse? Systemic Consultation and Understanding Complex Cases. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(3), 226-235. Mora, L. (2011). The puppet: Facilitator, Advocate and Co-therapist. Play for Life: The Journal of the International and UK Societies of Play and Creative Arts Therapies, Summer 2011, 25 - 30. Mora, L., & Chapparo, C. (2011). Using a sensory diet to mediate behaviours of concern and to increase children’s participation in daily activities. In D. Dossetor, D. White, and Lesley Whatson (Eds), Mental health of children and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A framework for professional practice. (pp.135-151). Melbourne: IP Communications. Rhodes, P., Whatson, L., Mora, L., Hansson, A., Brearley, K., & Dikian, J. (2011). Systemic hypothesising for challenging behaviour in intellectual Disabilities: A reflecting team approach, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 32(1), 70 – 82. Mora, L. (2011). Play therapy: A creative arts intervention for children with Intellectual Disability and Emotional and Behavioural Disturbance [Presentation abstract]. Australasian Society of Intellectual Disability Conference, Adelaide, November. Anders, H., Mora, L., Donelly, M., Dikian, J., Whatson, L., Rhodes, P., Brearley, K., & Franic, T. (2011). Behavioural Clinicians experiences of participatory action research (PAR). Australasian Society of Intellectual Disability Conference, Adelaide, November. Chapparo, C., & Mora, L. (2010). Impact of a Sensory Protocol on Functional and Behavioural Performance of Children with Severe Sensory Defensiveness, Behavioural Disturbance and Intellectual Disability. OT Australia, 24th National Conference, Gold Coast, June. Mora, L. (2009). Goal attainment scaling: Enabling collaboration, ADHC CST Therapy conference, Sydney, November. Mora, L. (2009). Impact of the sensory protocol on the functional and behavioural responses of children with intellectual disability, sensory defensiveness and behaviour support needs. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Navigating OT Interventions, CHW, Sydney, July. Mora, L., & Chapparo, C. (2008). The impact of the Sensory Protocol on the behavioural responses of children with intellectual disability, sensory defensiveness and behaviour support needs. ASID, 43rd Annual conference, Melbourne, November. Mora, L & Dikian, J. (2008). Systemic Consultation. Poster presented at ASID, 43rd Annual conference, Melbourne, November. Mora, L. (2006). We’re getting there: Negotiating occupational performance for children. SPOT on DD Conference, Sydney, August. Mora, L. (2006). Children with behaviour problems and their families: A review of the literature. World Federation of Occupational Therapists Conference, Sydney, July. Brown, S., & Mora, L (2006). Pinnochio and Gepetto: Supporting children in out of home care to connect. Little Steps – Big Progress, Karitane National Conference’, Sydney, April. Mora, L. (2006). A full time thing: Children’s occupational performance in the context of family life. (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. Mora, L. (2005). Finding the right way: Children’s occupational performance in the context of daily life. Skills for Kids: Paediatric Occupational Therapy Symposium, OT Australia Victoria, Melbourne, October. Mora, L. (2004). Occupational performance in the context of daily life. Deans seminar, University of Sydney, Sydney, September.

Services

Services are available in person and online

Fees:

Private/medicare fees begin at $220 per session
NDIS plan and self managed clients are welcome
Medicare rebates are eligible for those with a GP mental health care plan for mental health OT or a chronic disease management plan for OT services
OT services are eligible for a rebate with most health funds

Cancellations: