THERAPY

At Jigsaw, we provide therapy across the lifespan, seeing children, adolescents, families, and adults. Our approach is relatively simple: listen to the client and consider their strengths and what is burdening them. From there, explore collaborative ways to help people make meaning of their difficulties, process them, and move forward in the best way possible for their individual circumstance.

While no therapeutic modality is perfect in and of itself, it is important to use an evidence-base approach to guide therapeutic principles. This may include CBT, Trauma Focused CBT, EMDR, Schema Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, ACT, or others. It may also utilise frameworks such as the polyvagal theory, Internal Family Systems, or many others.

Our therapists are provided with consistent supervision, regardless of their level of experience, and there is a great culture amongst the clinic. Please contact us to find out more or to book in your first appointment.

At Jigsaw, we have a strong focus on child psychology. Our philosophy echoes many, that the earlier the intervention, the better. Child psychology is a spectrum, which can look different depending on the presentation of the child and their family or caregivers.

How it works

• When engaging in these services, the child is the focus. At Jigsaw, we listen to children, we validate their concerns, and we work with them to make positive change.

• However, the child may only be in the therapy room (or on Zoom) weekly or less, therefore, an important part of the process is working with the child's care givers. This can look different depending on the situation, however a common occurrence is for us to see the child fortnightly, and the parents via Zoom the other fortnight (we know everyone leads busy lives).

• We may work with the child on things like emotion regulation, understanding emotions, and most importantly, understanding their brains. All the while working with the care givers on understanding their child's brains, their behavioural profile, care giver style and responses, and using strategies and routines to help children feel more safe and settled.

Our interests and specialties

At Jigsaw, we see a wide range of presentations in children and caregivers, however, here are some differences we see work with a lot:

• Trauma (e.g. PTSD; C-PTSD; children in OOHC)

• Anxiety - Panic, OCD, generalised anxiety, and much more

• Neurodiversity - Autistic children, children with ADHD

• Emotion dysregulation (e.g. difficulty managing big emotions)

• NDIS participants

• much more!

Contact us for more information or to book in an appointment

Trauma therapy, or trauma healing, can look very different, depending on your experiences, and how they present themselves now. At Jigsaw, we are committed to people being open to share their traumatic experiences, make meaning of them, process them, and be able to move forward.

The director of the clinic, Jordi Tome, has over 10 years experience working with children, young people, families, and adults, who have experience severe and chronic abuse and neglect, sometimes called "cumulative trauma". Jordi is very passionate about this area, and believes ignoring past events in order to move forward is well intended, but can sometimes cause ongoing stress to the mind and body that may not subside.

At the clinic, we explore the clients unique needs, consider daily coping strategies, explore memories, work with the body, and help clients find ways to heal. While a level of directness is often appropriate during this type of therapy, empathy from your therapist, and hopefully from the client to themselves, is at the forefront of this work.

We work with trauma focused modalities such as EMDR, TF-CBT, polyvagal therapy, IFS, psychodynamic psychotherapy, plus many others, to assist people in their journey towards recover. Please contact us to find out more or book in an appointment.

The Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) system in NSW plays a critical role in providing safety and stability for vulnerable children and young people. However, the system faces significant challenges, particularly concerning the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. Approximately 40-50% of children in OOHC identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, highlighting the urgent need for culturally responsive and trauma-informed support.

Young people often experience complex trauma histories, including exposure to violence, neglect, and the disruption of familial and cultural bonds. Navigating the OOHC system itself can be challenging, with issues such as placement instability, cultural disconnection, and a lack of culturally competent care impacting their wellbeing.

How Jigsaw works?

With over a decade of experience working with children and young people in foster care and OOHC, we provide specialised psychological services designed to address the unique needs of this population. Our approach is grounded in a deep understanding of trauma and the importance of cultural responsiveness, particularly when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, utilising the Social, Emotional, and Wellbeing (SEWB) framework.

1. Trauma-Informed Psychological Assessment:

• Comprehensive assessments that consider the impact of trauma and cultural background.

• Utilisation of culturally sensitive assessment tools and techniques.

• Focus on identifying strengths and needs to inform tailored intervention plans.

2. Trauma-Informed Therapy:

• Individual therapy tailored to address the specific needs of children and young people with complex trauma histories.

• Utilisation of evidence-based modalities, including:

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Parts work (Internal Family Systems)

  • Psychodynamic psychotherapy

  • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)

• A focus on building resilience, fostering secure attachments, and promoting emotional regulation.

3. Training for Government Organisations and NGOs:

Workshops and training sessions designed to enhance understanding of trauma, cultural responsiveness, and the unique needs of children and young people in OOHC. For example:

• Understanding the impact of trauma and OOHC

• Trauma informed behaviour support

• Problematic and harmful sexualised behaviour (PHSB)

• Managing staff experiencing vicarious trauma (VC)

4. Consultation to Government and NGOs:

Assistance in the creation of trauma informed services.

By providing these services, Jigsaw aims to contribute to a more equitable and supportive OOHC system that prioritises the wellbeing and future of all children and young people.