Hi, I'm Lara — play therapist, teacher, and founder of The Learning Brain.

If you've ever watched your child struggle to fit into spaces that weren't made for them, you're in the right place. I created The Learning Brain for children who learn differently, feel deeply, and need more than a one-size-fits-all approach — and for the families who love them fiercely.

I'm a Certified Play Therapist, experienced classroom teacher (Prep–Year 6), Visual Arts and Performing Arts specialist, and Certified Facilitator of LEGO® Based Therapy. With over a decade working alongside children in schools and therapeutic settings, I've come to believe one thing above all else: every child has something remarkable inside them, waiting for the right conditions to grow.

I'm also a mum of two — one of whom is neurodivergent. That lived experience sits at the heart of everything I do. I know what it means to want your child to feel safe, seen, and celebrated exactly as they are. Not fixed. Not pushed into a mould. Just genuinely supported to discover who they are and what they're capable of.

As a child-centred play therapist, I work in the way children communicate most naturally — through play. Rather than asking children to sit and talk about what's hard (which, let's be honest, is difficult even for adults), I meet them in their world. In a safe, nurturing space, children use play, creativity, and imagination to process their experiences, express emotions they may not yet have words for, and build resilience from the inside out. It's gentle, it's powerful, and it works — because it starts with the child, not the problem.

My approach is neuroaffirming, which means I see neurodivergence as a difference, not a deficit. I follow children's interests, honour their unique ways of thinking, and use play, creativity, and curiosity as our tools. Inspired by Sir Ken Robinson's work on passion and learning, I've built a space where children can set their own goals, learn from mistakes, and find real joy in the process.

Whether your child is navigating neurodivergence, going through a difficult season, or simply thriving in their own wonderfully unique way — they are warmly welcome here.

The Learning Brain is a space to learn, play, heal and simply be.