About Me
How My Story Began
After some years of working in residential care and specialist education with children and young adults with Learning Disabilities and Autistic Spectrum Disorders, I decided to train as a social worker. I graduated from the University of Chester in 2004 as a qualified social worker, with a specialism in Children and Families. I had a very specific interest in working with children therapeutically and not just standard social work assessment activities.
Post Graduate Experience and Further Study
I primarily focused my career within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Teams (CAMHS), specialist social care teams (Fostering, Adoption and Post Adoption) and related therapeutic organisations within the charitable sector (hospice work and family support). I started my own business, Marvellous Resources Ltd in 2016, which has been rebranded in 2021 as Marvellous Resources Therapy Services! You can learn specifics about each of my job roles on my LinkedIn profile. Scroll down this page to read about my professional qualifications and training.
I have been an active member of The British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT) for some time. This initially included founding and managing the Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube pages, joining the Facebook team and writing articles/editing work for the BAPT Magazine. In 2019, I was elected onto the Board of Directors and was the Chair of the Communications and Public Relations Team for just over two years. I developed and managed a strong team of volunteers, managed the social media strategies, introduced and managed British Play Therapy Week and planned the project for the development of the new website. I became Vice Chair of BAPT in 2021.
My Core Therapeutic Qualifications
Diploma in Social Work and Diploma in Higher Education, (University of Chester, 2004).
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) (University of Cambridge, 2008).
Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy (Liverpool Hope University, 2009).
Intensive Filial Therapy Training (Tracie Faa-Thompson, 2018).
Lego-Based Therapy(University of Cambridge, 2019).
Autplay Therapy (Dr Robert Jason Grant, Autplay Creator, 2020).
Play Therapy Clinical Supervision (Deakin University,2021).
Additional Therapeutic Training
Mindfulness:
Mindfulness for Well-Being and Peak Performance (Monash University, 2020).
Mindfulness Techniques and Play Therapy With Children (Wonders Counselling and Consulting, approved by the US Association for Play Therapy, 2020).
Mindfulness Diploma (Complementary Medical Association, 2020).
Trauma:
Advanced TraumaPlay, Translating TraumaPlay into Telehealth, Attachment Enhancing Games in Trauma Play (The Trauma Play Institute, 2020).
The Healing Power of Imagination in Impossible Situations: Working With Loss Grief and Trauma (Dr Mooli Lahad, 2020).
The Brain Story Certificate (The Alberta Wellness Institute. 2020).
Autism:
Trauma and Autism (Dr Robert Jason Grant, Autplay Creator, 2020).
Masking In Autism (Dr Stephanie Satariano, The Children’s Trust, 2020).
NVQ 2 Autism Specific Care (City and Guilds, 2020).
Sensory Integration:
Sensory Preferences Assessment, Sensory Integration and Sensory Strategies for People with Sensory Processing Disorder Level 1&2 (Lancashire Care NHS Trust, 2011).
Intervention Models:
Multi-Dimensional Treatment Foster Care Clinical Training (The Maudsley Hospital, 2006).
Solution Focused Brief Therapy (Lancashire Care NHS Trust, 2008).
The Incredible Years Parent Group Leader Training (Central Manchester University Hospital, 2008).
Supervision:
Clinical Supervision and Processing Shame (Simon Kerr Edwards, 2020).
Business Qualifications
I have a keen interest in learning how to support both my own business, BAPT and fellow therapist’s businesses. To this end, I have successfully studied, and have been awarded, the following qualifications:
Fundamentals of Digital Marketing Certificate (Google, The Open University and IAB, 2020).
Social Media Marketing Certificate (The British Forces Broadcasting Service Academy, 2020).
Away From Work
I have lived in a few different places, due to my husband’s role in the Royal Navy. We currently live near Portsmouth with our two dogs. As much as I am interested in Animal Assisted Play Therapy, I am not sure my two dogs would have the calm nature and attention required to study! In my spare time, I like to spend time with my family and friends, walk the dogs, go to the cinema and attempt to keep up with some reading.