Kate Renshaw, born July 25, 1980, at Collarenebri, New South Wales, is an Australian play therapist, filial therapist, educator, author, speaker, and mental health consultant.^[1][2] She is best known for designing the Teacher’s Optimal Relationship Approach (TORA).^[3][4] TORA is a mental health and wellbeing program to enhance emotional and psychological support in primary schools for students and educators.^[5]

With a background in psychology and art therapy, Renshaw gained her Ph.D. in play therapy from Deakin University in 2022, developing the TORA methodology, and holds professional recognition in Australia, the US and Britain for her work.^[6][7]

Since 2012, she has been the founder and director of Play and Filial Therapy, which includes a private practice in regional Victoria where she lives, working with families, and children, and lectures and supervises at institutions in Australia, the UK and Ireland.^[8][9]

Renshaw makes contributions to the field of play therapy through her research, contributing to books like Infant Play Therapy and Integrating Technology into Modern Therapies.^[10][11][12] An advocate for the role of play in child development and mental health, she has presented at national and international conferences, and has shared her expertise on ABC Australia, ABC News Radio, The Conversation, The Big Smoke, and other platforms.^{[13][14][15][16]}