Judi Parson

Associate Professor Judi Parson is a pediatric-qualified Registered Nurse and Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor at Deakin University's School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health. She leads the Play Therapy discipline at the university and is recognized internationally for her work in Medical Play Therapy and the integration of digital technologies in therapeutic practice. Her career spans clinical practice, research, teaching, and leadership in the field of play therapy.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy, Central Queensland University
• Master of Health Science (Nursing), Charles Sturt University
• Master of Arts in Play Therapy with Distinction, Roehampton University, UK
• Graduate Diploma of Nursing, Australian Catholic University
• Graduate Certificate of Higher Education, Deakin University
• Bachelor of Nursing, Australian Catholic University

Research Interests

Professor Parson's research focuses on Play Therapy as an emerging profession to support biopsychosocial health and development for children and their families. Her work explores thematic expression of humanistic skills within play therapy and supervision sessions, pediatric (hospital, medical and procedural) play therapy techniques, and digital tele-health including therapeutic apps and virtual reality. She employs qualitative research methods such as Phenomenology and Autoethnography to investigate optimal therapeutic effects for diverse populations including war-affected children, those experiencing natural disasters, Aboriginal communities, children of incarcerated parents, and children with autism. Her research bridges theory and practice while addressing cultural responsiveness and technological innovation in play therapy.

Research Output Trends

Professor Parson's recent publications reveal a strong focus on expanding play therapy applications across diverse contexts and populations. Her work increasingly addresses cultural responsiveness, particularly with Aboriginal communities, and the adaptation of play therapy for crisis situations including natural disasters and war. There's a notable trend toward integrating digital technologies, with several publications on tele-play therapy, virtual reality applications, and online supervision. Her research also demonstrates growing attention to specific populations such as children of incarcerated parents and those with autism, while maintaining her foundational work in medical play therapy for pediatric healthcare settings.

Scientific Awards

• Australian Postgraduate Award (2003-2008) for PhD research on "Integration of procedural play for children undergoing Cystic Fibrosis treatment: A nursing perspective"
• Highest Academic Achievement Award (1996) for Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Child and Adolescent health - Advanced paediatrics)

Supervision and Grants

Professor Parson actively supervises multiple doctoral and master's students across various play therapy research topics. Her current doctoral supervision includes research on psychosocial interactions in parent-child play relationships, therapeutic play for developmental trauma, and children's coping with vaccinations. She recently secured a significant grant from The Rotary Club of Sydney Inc for "Tele Play Therapy" research (2024-2026, $36,721.28), demonstrating continued funding support for her innovative work in digital play therapy applications.

Professional Leadership

Professor Parson is a co-founder of the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA) and the International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations (IC-PTA), playing a key role in shaping the field globally. She serves on the Editorial Board of the British Journal of Play Therapy and maintains professional registrations with multiple play therapy associations worldwide, including as a Registered Play Therapist/Supervisor with APPTA. Her leadership extends to developing the Master of Child Play Therapy program at Deakin University, where she teaches multiple courses including Foundations of Play Therapy, Humanistic Play Therapy, and Systemic Play Therapy.