About Lani Castan

I am an accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Play and Narrative Therapist who started out my work in the field, working with children. This has expanded to working with children and their families, individuals, adolescents, & adults, young to old.

Since completing my social work degree, I I began my work as a coordinator of a grassroots service organisation in Melbourne that focused on family violence and sexual assault.

My approach in refuge work aimed to help develop and acknowledge client's strengths. I became a child advocate, focusing on helping kids express & process trauma, in a safe space using play therapy.

My interest in working with children has led me on a fascinating journey in furthering my theoretical knowledge of therapeutic interventions for children and young people. My personal philosophy of the importance of play for children lead to my interest in Child Centred Play Therapy. This framework facilitates the safety of a strong, positive relationship. It emphasises that with the use of empathy, non-judgment and unconditional positive regard, it is possible for every individual to reach their full potential and be the best version of themselves that they can be.

From this base, I have expanded my repertoire in the ways I can work with children, young people adults and families which includes a compassionate framework called Internal Family Systems (IFS). I align with IFS due to its emphasis and inclusion of ALL the parts of a person being welcome in the therapy space, & its non-judgmental, kind and healing offerings.     

To learn more, please contact me. 

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