Annessa Au
歐穎敏
Social Worker/ Play Therapist
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Master of Social work (HKU)
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Master of Philosophy (HKU)
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Bachelor of Science, major Food and Nutritional Science; Psychology (HKU)
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Registered Social Worker (Social Worker Registration Board)
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Registered Play Therapist (Association of Play Therapy, US)
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Certified AutPlay®️ Therapy Provider (AutPlay Therapy, US)
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Certified Positive Discipline Parent Facilitator (Positive Discipline Association)
Ms. Annessa Au holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Hong Kong and is a registered social worker with Hong Kong’s Social Workers Registration Board. After graduating, she pursued further training in play therapy, family counselling and parenting. She subsequently qualified as a Registered Play Therapist with the US Association for Play Therapy and a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator with the Positive Discipline Association.
Ms. Annessa Au studied play therapy for children with autism under Dr. Robert Jason Grant and became a Certified AutPlay® Therapy Provider. She also completed a course in family and couples therapy at the ISS Family Institute, as well as a certificate course in solution-focused therapy with the Hong Kong Social Workers’ General Union.
Ms. Au has eight years of experience in child and family counselling. She has worked in family service centres, women’s shelters, hospitals, primary schools, kindergartens and nurseries. She provides play therapy for children experiencing anxiety or trauma and for those with special educational needs. She also offers counselling to parents and helps them explore approaches to parenting.
Over the course of her work, Ms. Au has conducted more than 50 groups and workshops, including parent therapy and support groups, children’s development groups, parent–child activities and parenting workshops. In addition to play-based approaches, she incorporates art and music into her work. She is a certified advanced instructor in Pastel Nagomi Art and holds an ABRSM Grade 8 qualification in piano.