“For a child, it is in the simplicity of play that the complexity of life is sorted like puzzle pieces joined together to make sense of the world.”

L.R.Knost

For a child, it is in the simplicity of play that the complexity of life is sorted like puzzle pieces joined together to make sense of the world.

We offer psychotherapy, counselling, and social work services to people ages 4 and above.

We offer psychotherapy, counselling and social work services to people ages 4 and above.

Welcome to Yellow Balloon Therapy

Empowering Individuals. Supporting Growth. Inspiring Change.

At Yellow Balloon Therapy, we provide exceptional therapeutic and mental health services, including psychotherapy, counselling, social work, and play based therapy tailored to the needs of children, young people, families, and diverse communities. As a proud provider for NDIS participants, we offer individualised support to help clients achieve their goals and enhance their quality of life. We understand that every journey is unique, and our holistic approach combines evidence-based practices, cultural sensitivity, and creativity to help our clients thrive.

yellow ballon therapy pic

Children's play IS TheraPY

It's not just play!

Play is an essential part of early learning. It is the lifeblood of the learning process. As children play they are developing the cognitive, socio-emotional and physical skills they will need to take them into a successful adulthood.
they are developing their curiosity, problem-solving, intentionality, flexibility, and verbal & non-verbal skills.
Socio- emotionally they are developing their emotional intelligence – learning confidence, cooperation, negotiation, sharing, empathy, and how to communicate appropriately.
Physically their fine motor and gross motor skills are being practiced and developed.
It’s not just play they are skills for life!

Our Services

We offer a range of services and programs for individuals, families, workplaces, events, schools, and community groups.

Workshops and Training Programs

Our interactive workshops and training sessions are designed to educate, inspire, and empower. Delivered to schools, organisations, and community groups, our workshops cover topics such as:

  • Understanding mental health and building resilience
  • Enhancing emotional regulation and coping skills
  • Practical tools and practices to help with team building and team bonding
  • Cultural awareness and inclusive therapeutic practices—including traditional therapeutic practices from diverse ethnic communities, that can be seamlessly incorporated into the everyday life, fostering a deeper understanding of and appreciation for cultural diversity in mental health care.
  • Each session is thoughtfully curated to engage participants and can be tailored to suit specific needs
    e.g., diverse audiences, including adolescents, educators and students, allied health professionals, NDIS participants, and diverse communities.

Cultural Consultations

We specialise in providing culturally informed consultations for organisations and professionals working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including NDIS participants. Our expertise in traditional therapeutic practices of diverse ethnic communities, as well as our founder’s lived experience as a former refugee, allows us to:

  • Offer unique insights into cross-cultural mental health practices
  • Support with the design and delivery of culturally responsive programs
  • Enhance understanding and inclusion in your workplace or community

Youth Mentoring Program

Our Youth Mentoring Program supports young people aged 12 – 25, including NDIS participants, in overcoming challenges such as:

  • Difficulty staying in school
  • Navigating the transition to employment
  • Managing family relationships
  • Building and maintaining healthy friendships
  • Personal growth

Through one-on-one mentoring, skill-building sessions, and group activities, we aim to foster confidence, independence, and long-term success. Mentoring services can be tailored to align with individual goals, including NDIS participant goals—e.g., capacity building, social inclusion, and community participation.

Working with NDIS Participants

At Yellow Balloon Therapy, we proudly support NDIS participants of all ages, by offering services under:

  • Capacity Building: develop life skills, improve communication, and build independence
  • Therapeutic Supports: access tailored therapy sessions to address mental health and emotional wellbeing
  • Social and Community Participation: engage in meaningful activities and build social connections

Our Therapeutic approaches

How we work with you

We apply different therapeutic approaches to ensure we meet clients’ needs. The following are some of the approaches we apply when working with you:   

TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPY

Trauma Informed therapy

NARRATIVE APPROACH

Narrative Approach

Expressive therapy

Expressive therapy

Play and art therapy

Play and art therapy

TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPY

Trauma Informed therapy

Trauma does not discriminate, children from adults. Trauma can come in different forms, through many life challenges and affects people in different ways. Trauma symptoms are categorised in different domains and children often find it hard to understand their traumatic experiences.    

Narrative Approach

Narrative therapy is a form of therapy that views people as separate from their problems. The notion of story is very central to narrative therapy as stories are the way we make meaning. Problems are understood to be socially constructed and created overtime; this means that who we are as a person is shaped by the environment and identity is subject to change.  

NARRATIVE APPROACH
Expressive therapy

Expressive therapy

There are times when we will experience difficulty talking about how we feel. Expressive therapy is a form of therapy that uses creative activities to help clients share and process feelings and memories that may be hard to put into words. Expressive therapy through art, music, dance, drama or poetry could therefore be a healing outlet.  

Play and art therapy

In play, children do playout their inner and real experiences in ways that support them to build insight and capacity. Research observed the importance of play for human happiness. Play is fundamental for children and play therapy allows children to process their emotions and/or articulate problems. 

Play and art therapy

Meet Our Founder

Sophia Saidi – Founder & Director

Qualifications: Bachelor of Psychological Science, Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy,
Master of Social Work

Sophia Saidi founded Yellow Balloon Therapy in 2021 with a vision to create a space where children and young people of all backgrounds can find tailored, compassionate, and innovative support for their mental health.

 

A highly qualified therapist and youth leader, Sophia brings over a decade of experience working with children and families, particularly those from refugee and culturally diverse backgrounds. Her approach blends evidence-based therapies with ancient and traditional practices of ethnic communities, offering clients a culturally sensitive and holistic experience.

 

With her lived experience as a former refugee, Sophia is committed to empowering others to overcome adversity, find their strengths, and thrive. She draws on her professional expertise and personal journey to connect with clients in meaningful and transformative ways.

 

Together with her team of passionate and dedicated professionals, Sophia works tirelessly to ensure every client receives personalised care and support throughout their journey.

Get in touch!

Whether you’re interested in our services, have a quick question, or want to discuss a tailored solution, we would love to hear from you!