Hello...
Welcome to Grace's Secret.
My name is Lisa and I am so incredibly honoured and excited to bring this story to life. It has long been my hopes that if Grace's Secret helps even one child to feel safe enough to tell their story, than I have succeeded.
As a teacher, therapist and parent, I wrote this book because I was continually witnessing the voices and stories of very young children go unheard and unseen. These children are our MOST vulnerable in the community and every effort should be made to provide the space, time and empathy for them to tell their story.
I truly hope Grace's Secret provides children, parents and professionals with the tools to do this.
My Story
Lisa Marie is a Qualified Play Therapist, Counsellor, Early Childhood Teacher, Author, and a foster mum, with over 25 years of experience working with children and vulnerable families.
Through her work in fields such as Early Childhood services, TAFE Education, and Out of Home Care, Lisa saw a growing need for not only trauma education but also therapeutic services for children in their early years. Gaining her qualifications as a registered play therapist and counsellor, Lisa founded Early Years Wellbeing; a specialised trauma service providing play therapy and support to vulnerable children and families on the far north coast.
As the director of Early Years Wellbeing, Lisa discovered that there were limited trauma resources, specifically for children in their early years. With this in mind, Lisa made the decision to close the service after 5 years and focus on her family and developing professional resources that would allow her to fill an increasingly unique need within the community. All too often, it is assumed that children in their early years don’t need specialised support in the belief that ‘they’ll be ok’. When in fact, it is vital that they receive exactly that, in order to achieve positive outcomes throughout the rest of their life.
Combining her interests in play, early literacy, and child protection, Lisa completed her Protective Behaviours practitioner training, before taking her knowledge and experience to create ‘Graces Grace’s Secret’. With a deep understanding of young children who have experienced trauma, Lisa wanted to create a resource that was child-led and allowed professionals and cares to meet the child’s needs rather than the needs of the adult.
“A child will never tell you their story if you don’t first stop, look and listen…..”
