For all enquiries about being matched with a Theraplay UK Supervisor, please contact supervisormatching@theraplay.org.uk. If you choose to contact a Supervisor directly, please also notify via the Supervisor Matching email too – thank you.
Karen Andor*, BA, BA (hons), BEd (hons), MEd is Specialist Support Teacher, an Educational Psychologist and a Psychotherapist. She works in private practice. She has trained in Psychodynamic Play Therapy and Family Therapy. She is a certified Theraplay Therapist and is in the process of completing the Supervisor’s Theraplay Practicum. She is currently completing her Level II Sensorimotor Psychotherapy training and has attended Level I of the Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Training. She has worked in the private sector as well as with deprived communities both in England and in South Africa. She specialises with working with trauma and attachment difficulties and likes to apply the principles of Theraplay within general school settings to support children’s development. Karen can be reached at karen.andor@gmail.com
Dr Emily Barnbrook, DClinPsy* is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Certified Theraplay® Therapist and is now completing the Supervisor’s and Trainer’s Practicum. Emily is also accredited in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy® and is engaged in the DDP consultant’s practicum. Emily is the clinical lead for a multi-agency team specialising in providing attachment focused therapeutic intervention for children who are looked after and adopted and their parents/carers and professional networks. Emily also works part time for The Family Place. Through this work Emily has been privileged to work with many fostering, adoptive and residential families who have taught her so much about the challenges of living with the impact of trauma. Emily is passionate about helping children develop healthy, loving attachment relationships. She was excited when she began using Theraplay and experienced how quickly this can engage both children and their parents/carers and powerfully strengthen their attachment bond. Prior to working with children and families, Emily pursued her interest in trauma working with adults who were experiencing psychosis and addiction. You can contact her at emily@thefamilyplace.co.uk.
Carly Barrett-Greening, BA Hons, DipSW., has studied Social Science and attachment since 1998. Main field of experience is working within children in care services and adoption. From 1998 studied Psychology, counselling and management diplomas as part of the Welfare diploma. Initially qualifying as a Welfare Officer in 1999, qualified as social worker in 2002. Carly has experience of undertaking Private fostering within own family. Carly qualified in Yoga for children in 2010. 2009-20012: 3 years study in Specialist post graduate Degree in Children and Families to include, child development studies, psychology, neuroscience, Tavistock Child Observation skills training, practice teaching, Assessment Skills to include assessing environmental factors, child development and parenting capacity. 2013 Specialising in therapeutic Social Worker in post adoption: working with therapists, psychologists and occupational Therapists as part of therapeutic life story work, sensory integration interventions, dyadic working. Carly is a practitioner in training for Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. Undertaking level one DDP in 2013 and level 2 2015. Carly is a Fully Certified Theraplay Practitioner. 2017 completed module one Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY). Currently undertaking specialist Trauma studies Certification program in Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga Therapist (TCTSY) to become a trauma focused Yoga therapist to use as a adjunctive therapy. Carly can be reached at waveconnections@outlook.com
Sue Bellamy CQSW* has over 40 years of experience of working with children and families in diverse settings and roles including as a Foster Carer for fifteen years. Sue has Qualifications in Residential work, youth work, field social work, practise teaching. She is Certified Theraplay Practitioner having used Theraplay techniques in her daily practise since have received Level One Theraplay training 2003. Sue has received training in Best Evidence, Narrative Therapy and DDP. She is also a certified trainer in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Family Care Providers. Sue recently retired after 15 years in a senior Post from Wirral’s Camhs Partnership Team, a specialist team which provides a mental health assessments and treatment Plans to Children Looked After, Adopted and Children on a Child Protection Plan. Sue is now working as an independent Social Worker and Theraplay Practitioner. She specialises in working with children who have experienced Abuse, trauma and Placement disruption. She is particularly interested in supporting children in Transition, with the aim of enabling them gain stability while experiencing positive connections with their parents/carers. Sue at this present time is a Theraplay Supervisor in training. You can contact Sue at Sue.bellamy@ntlworld.com.
Vicky Blackwell* is Trainee in advanced Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy (PG-Dip), Certified Theraplay Practitioner and supervisor (in training) HCPC Social Worker. Vicky has been working independently 4 years providing a therapeutic service to children and their families. Prior to this Vicky worked in the voluntary sector for 6 years providing therapeutic support using Theraplay techniques to adoptive families. She has also attended Level 1 DDP training and uses the techniques within her practice. Vicky has worked in the social care sector for 15 years.
Vicky has been providing long-term therapeutic packages to fostered and adoptive families within the North West area, as well as child therapy for private families. She offers an integrative approach and is able to devise needs-led assessments and interventions to meet the complex needs of looked after and adopted children of all ages, and their families. Vicky has an extensive knowledge and awareness of attachment and trauma from working within the field for 10 years and uses attachment based therapy and Theraplay, working with the whole family, or child-led interventions using a variety of creative methods, including somatic/sensory, play, art and hypnotherapy/mindfulness, in lots of creative ways. She is very passionate about her work and dedicated to finding ways to support children who have experienced trauma.
Vicky also offers consultancy to fostering agencies and has developed a mental health workshop to children and currently provides therapy to a children’s service within a charity for victims of Domestic Violence.
Dr Joanna Blundell Jones*, DClinPsy, is a HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist, a Certified Theraplay Therapist and Theraplay Supervisor-in Training and Trainer-in-Training. Currently she primarily works with families where children, teenagers and young adults (0-25) have been diagnosed with cancer or non-malignant haematological conditions, both during and after treatment. Joanna has also worked within a community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). These job roles mean she has used Theraplay with birth families as well as fostered and adopted children. Her therapeutic work generally involves Theraplay, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness, solution-focused, Cognitive Analytic Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approaches. She has attended Level 1 Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy training with Dan Hughes, and EMDR training with Michael Patterson, and integrates elements of these into her work as appropriate. She sees Theraplay® as integral in her workplace for strengthening parent-child relationships in the context of physical health conditions and medical trauma as parents often have to ‘become’ doctors and nurses to their child. Joanna resides in Sheffield, UK, where she works for the NHS. Joanna can be reached at j.blundelljones@gmail.com
Ali Cliffe, BA Hons, EYPS, PGCert, is a certified Theraplay Practitioner and trainer and an associate supervisor. Ali specialises in providing child and family Theraplay interventions with children 10 years old and under. Ali has completed an MA module in Attachment and Learning with Bath Spa University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Wellbeing with Tavistock and Portman where she completed a dissertation on thinking psychoanalytically and systemically on a Theraplay intervention with an adoptive family. Ali is currently studying Infant Observation and Psychoanalytic Studies with the Severnside Institute for Psychotherapy. Ali has over 20 years of experience of working with children and families in a variety of capacities including child minding, respite care for disabled children, emergency foster care, home education for children on the autism spectrum, Flying Start practitioner and Theraplay practitioner. Currently Ali is employed by Bright Start Children’s Centres providing Theraplay interventions for children in their pre-school year who are at risk of not successfully managing the transition to school due to emotional and behavioural difficulties, attachment disruptions or experience of early trauma. Her role also includes running Peer Support Sessions and supervision to Theraplay-informed and Foundational Level practitioners. Ali works within schools and Early Years settings modeling Group Theraplay and Sunshine Circles as well as promoting the role of a Key Adult in supporting children who have experienced disrupted attachments and trauma. Ali can be contacted for peer support and supervision at alison_cliffe@bathnes.gov.uk
Carla Coley* has been a qualified social worker for over 7 years and has spent this time specialising in the adoption field. Carla is a certified Theraplay practitioner, DDP level 1 trained, has Assisted on Theraplay Training, and Now in the Theraplay supervisor practicum.
Carla has extensive experience and skills in providing therapeutic interventions, such as Theraplay, life story work, in providing attachment training, from this she has gained specialist knowledge of attachment and developmental trauma.
Carla has worked closely with professionals such as teachers, foster cares, social workers. Within this work she has developed bespoke packages of support including classroom observations, group work, consultations, and specialist training. Carla can be reached by email at carla.coley13@hotmail.co.uk,
Dr. Amelia Fay Taylor*, BSc Hons, PGCE, DAppEdPsy, HCPC Reg. CPsychol.
Amelia is a certified Theraplay Practitioner and Chartered HCPC Registered Educational Psychologist. She works within a Local Authority Educational Psychology Service in the North East of England and also independently provides assessment and therapeutic work through LifeCycles Psychology. Amelia specializes in work with children in care and post adoption where there is a history of trauma and attachment difficulties. Amelia also integrates Theraplay with mountain biking in her LifeCycles Programme. Amelia is also trained in Video Interaction Guidance, DDP and to teach Mindfulness with children. She is passionate about developing Theraplay practice in her area to bring the highest quality evidence based interventions to families in need. Amelia is currently a Theraplay Supervisor in training. Amelia can be contacted at info@lifecyclespsychology.com
Jeanette Ellis B.A.hons, PgDip, MA, Certified Theraplay Practitioner, Diploma in Supervision
I am a (Health Care Professions Council) state registered Dramatherapist. I qualified in 2005. I am also a Certified Theraplay Practitioner and Clinical Supervisor. I am also trained to first level DDP (Dyadic Developmental Practice). I am a member of the British Association of Dramatherapists and The Theraplay Institute and follow their ethical guidelines. I have a current Enhanced DBS Certificate.
I have worked across the full spectrum, with 9 years experience specialising in Parent and Child, including trauma cases, children from adoption and foster placements and children with learning difficulties. I have taught this format to Dramatherapy students at Anglia Ruskin and have extensive knowledge of the use of creative methods for professional development and supervision with professionals from all areas including teachers and teaching assistants. I am currently supporting Theraplay Practitioners in gaining qualifications from Foundational to fully Certified and have also supported Dramatherapy students during their training.
I firmly believe that the creative approaches to therapy can be extremely helpful in allowing access to ‘places’ that were not given time/space or a voice as a child. I work sensitively and intuitively so that these important feelings can be fully expressed at an individual’s own pace. Additionally, within the Theraplay sessions, the four dimensions from the Theraplay model are used in a more directive approach, specifically to promote feelings of safety, security and a shared experience. Techniques are modelled and encouraged that parents/guardians can use within everyday life. jeanettee9@gmail.com
Sarah Foster is a Registered Social worker; State Registered Dramatherapist, Certified Theraplay® Therapist and has completed level 1 & 2 DDP training.
Sarah is based in Merseyside. She has 10 years’ experience as a local authority Child Care Social Worker, including working in a fostering and adoption team, followed by 16 years’ experience within tier 3 CAMHS, which has included a specialist role addressing the mental health needs of children who are fostered, adopted and in residential care. She has extensive experience of issues relating to attachment and trauma, and has developed creative ways to engage children, young people and their families.
Sarah has been running a Theraplay clinic within CAMHS since Certification in 2013 which she has found to be highly effective in promoting healthy functioning. Sarah is impressed by the versatility of Theraplay and its ability to overcome a child’s resistance. Using a combination of skills, where necessary Sarah is able to adapt interventions according to the child’s developmental progress.
Sarah welcomes the opportunity to use the benefit of her experience to guide others in the use of Theraplay recognising the positive, enduring impact that this intervention has upon children and their caregivers. sarolsa@aol.com
Louise Howarth*, BSc (Hons), MSW, CQSW, PGDip (Play therapy), is a qualified social worker and play therapist. She is a certified Theraplay Practitioner, trainer in training and supervisor in training. Louise has specialised in therapeutic work with children and families impacted by abuse and trauma and disrupted Attachment relationships. She worked for NSPCC for over 16 years.
For the past 7 years she has worked within the field of adoption and adoption support as a practitioner and manager. She has experience providing Theraplay interventions with adoptive families from early placement onwards. She has taken a lead role in developing and promoting Theraplay within the agencies she has worked and has supported and mentored staff to implement Theraplay techniques in their work. She has been involved in Theraplay Level 1 training as an assistant and trainer in training.
Louise now works freelance as a play therapist and Theraplay practitioner and is keen to support students to develop skills in Theraplay and achieve their foundational level. Louise is based in East Yorkshire and can be contacted at louise@eastridingplaytherapy.co.uk
Charlotte Jenkins* is a certified Theraplay practitioner and social worker who has worked in a variety of settings supporting children, young people and their families. She has been qualified as a social worker since 2002 and also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Childcare. She has worked with families facing homelessness, in safeguarding teams and across fostering, adoption and kinship care developing relationship based and attachment focused services as a practitioner and team manager.
She is based in Birmingham and now offers direct therapeutic work for children and their families and consultation and training for professionals supporting them as the Director of Beacon Family Services. Beacon Family Services work with families and schools offering dyadic and group Theraplay. She has experience delivering Theraplay with adoptive, fostering and special guardianship families as well as developing community based Theraplay programmes for refugee families and those with emerging social and emotional needs, particularly children with ADHD and Autism.
Charlotte is part of the Theraplay supervisor’s practicum. She is becoming accredited in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). She has a special interest in neurodevelopmental perspectives and incorporates Sensory Attachment Intervention principles into her work and delivers the Just Right State Programme.
When she is not working Charlotte loves yoga, gardening, reading and chocolate.
Helen Maund*, HCPC registered Social Worker, Certified Theraplay Practitioner, Trainer and Supervisor (in training) and has earned her post graduate certificate in therapeutic play and is a trainee Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) Practitioner. Helen has worked as a Social Worker for 19 years in the field of child protection, children’s residential setting and for 12 years in adoption for a local authority adoption service. She now works independently providing Theraplay, DDP, Therapeutic Life Story Work, training and supervision to a wide range of clients, although she specialises in therapeutic work with children and families in the area of fostering and adoption. Helen is passionate about using Theraplay as a very effective intervention with children who have experienced trauma through abuse and neglect. She has an excellent understanding of developmental trauma which underpins all her work. Her work is influenced by Theraplay, Family Futures, Dr. Bruce Perry, Dr. Dan Siegal, Dr. Dan Hughes and Bryan Post.
Helen works with children who have experienced neglect, physical, sexual abuse and emotional harm. The children that Helen works with may have other additional needs such as sensory processing problems or pre-natal alcohol exposure. As part of Helen’s therapeutic work with families, she supports parents in their parenting approach as they often need to learn a different way of parenting their children. Helen can supervise practitioners to Foundational Level status and looks forward to supporting practitioners through this part of the Theraplay practicum process. Helen is available for both face-to-face supervision or via video link. Helen can be contacted at helen@togethertree.co.uk
Julie McCann is a BAPT Play Therapist and Certified Theraplay Practitioner based in south London who offers face to face supervision from her home as well as supervision via the internet. She works for the UK charity TACT and is attached to their Peterborough permanency team. The focus of her work is a BBC Children In Need funded project called ‘The Power of Play’ which supports adoptive families in the early stages of placement with Theraplay based sessions and offers life story play therapy and long-term Theraplay interventions for children who have been with their adopters for some time. Julie has been working closely with the Theraplay Institute in the US to re-write the practicum documents for UK settings and has students from a range of professional backgrounds at all stages of the practicum. She uses her play therapy skills in private practice and in local schools, working with children and their families to build stronger attachments and process feelings around trauma and loss associated with deprivation, immigration status and temporary housing. You can contact her at Julie.wigwam@outlook.com
Dr Vivien Norris, DClinPsy, DipMusicTh is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and Music Therapist. She is also a Certified Theraplay® Therapist, Trainer and Supevisor and is accredited in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy®. Vivien has been working as a Clinical Psychologist within the NHS in the UK for over twenty years specialising in therapeutic work with families and in the area of fostering and adoption. She has a longstanding interest in trauma and has worked in various roles in the field, in therapeutic communities with adolescents and leading national research into the impact of the Asian tsunami.
Alongside part time NHS work, Vivien is Clinical Director of The Family Place www.thefamilyplace.co.uk, an independent organisation providing flexible therapeutic interventions for families. Her main area of interest is in children with severe difficulties in forming relationships, arising from histories of abuse, neglect and trauma. Her clinical approach centrally includes foster carers and adopters in interventions and combines approaches to address complex difficulties. Vivien has many years experience delivering training. She has contributed to publications in the area of self-harm and the impact of trauma. Vivien can be contacted at info@thefamilyplace.co.uk
Heidi Pannell*, BA, MA, DIPSW has been a social worker for 20 years and is dedicated to building better futures for children. Heidi is a Certified Theraplay practitioner and Supervisor-in-Training, a Practitioner in Training in DDP, and a Relax Kids Coach.
Heidi has worked in the adoption arena for 6 years with my previous work experience comprising Safeguarding and Residential social work and different posts in community based Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS). Through her work experience she has gained therapeutic skill, specialist knowledge of attachment and developmental trauma, and particular understanding of the services and processes within the adoption sector.
In addition to direct work with families, Heidi also provides consultation and supervision to professionals including social workers, teachers, foster carers and Special Guardians. Heidi regularly delivers attachment training to parents and provides therapeutic group work for children, in educational and other settings.
Heidi has a strong academic background and early in her career spent a number of years working overseas with children experiencing deprivation. Heidi lives in the North West of England and has 2 children. Heidi can be reached at heidipma@gmail.com.
Fiona Peacock is a BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor and Certified Theraplay® Therapist, Trainer and Supervisor. In the past she worked in a highly specialised CAMHS team for Looked After and Adopted children as well as working in Education settings. Now she has a private practice providing psychotherapy and Theraplay to children whose early experiences of attachments have been disrupted as well as consultation, supervision and training to other professionals in this field. She also provides generic schools counselling. She is a Teaching Associate at University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education teaching Psychotherapeutic Counselling for Children and Adolescents up to MEd level. She is a contribution author to McLaughlin & Holliday (2014) Therapy with Children and Young People and to two of the modules in the MindEd programme (https://www.minded.org.uk) and co author of Fostering Good Relationships (Richardson & Peacock 2016). Currently she is also studying for an EdD at Cambridge researching into the experience of Theraplay. Contact details: fiona@peacockcounselling.com
Jenny Podd* – 
Certified Theraplay Practitioner, Supervisor in Training and fully qualified Practice Educator. Jenny is a registered HCPC Social Worker with many years’ experience in working with children and families. Her specialism is developmental trauma and attachment and Jenny currently works within a specialist CAMHS service for Looked After and Adopted Children. Jenny is also trained in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy to Level II and uses both this and Theraplay as effective intervention tools to support her work with children that have experienced trauma and abuse. Jenny is passionate about helping children to build trusting, attuned relationships with their parents and carers through the use of Theraplay.
In addition to her direct work with families Jenny also offers consultation to a wide range of professionals and delivers attachment training to foster carers and Social Workers. Jenny also oversees the use of Theraplay within her specialist service and supports and mentors colleagues across Nottinghamshire who are trained in and using Theraplay in their practice. She can be contacted via jenny.podd@outlook.com
Dr Helen Rodwell* is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist. She holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, a MSc in Forensic Psychology and a BSc(Econ) in Psychology and Sociology. She is registered with the HCPC. Helen has been working clinically with children, parents and families for over fifteen years. She is a Certified Theraplay Practitioner and is now completing the Supervisor’s Practicum. Helen considers the Practicum to be one of the highlights of her continual professional development and would highly recommend it to other professionals. She currently works in independent practice in Derby where she offers therapeutic interventions to children, parents and families alongside being a long-standing Expert Witness to the Family Courts. She also works with adoption and fostering agencies. Helen previously co-managed a NHS Psychology service for Looked After and Adopted children in Stoke On Trent following many years working in generic camhs. In addition to Theraplay, her modalities include Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, EMDR, Systemic Family Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Approaches. Helen is keen to support and promote the use of Theraplay within the UK because ‘it works’! She can be contacted via her PA, Lee at: la@jigsawpsychology.co.uk.
Pat Roughan* is MA qualified Social Worker. She received her master’s in 1998 at Goldsmiths College. Pat has extensive including with 12 years in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Children Looked after and Adoption experience. She is certified as a Theraplay Practitioner with Level 2 DDP training. She has served as a training assistant in both Level 1 and Level 2 Theraplay training and is currently a supervisor in training. Pat offers consultations and Theraplay to the child and its network and also offers Therapeutic Attachment Training to groups. Pat can be reached by email at patriciaroughan@btinternet.com or 07462355087.
Jo Williams M.A. Dramatherapist, Counsellor, Certified Theraplay® Therapist, Supervisor and Trainer, Transpersonal and Integrative Supervisor:
Jo has a wealth of experience working in a variety of settings. Working for 20 years in Adult Mental Health before moving to Children’s services in 2003. She has firmly established Theraplay services in Northamptonshire, especially in a number of Primary Schools settings. Her continuing initiative is to spread the Theraplay knowledge and skill base. She leads numerous learning events and conferences, has devised team building events and supervised the professional development of teams and colleagues. Jo is held in high regard for her enthusiastic style and has been the catalyst for many service departments for Northamptonshire. She supports local professionals and organisations in developing their Theraplay skills base and assists their desire to develop Theraplay as a leading edge practice initiative.
Jay Vaughan, MA, HCPC Dramatherapist, DDP, SEP is a State Registered Dramatherapist, a Certified Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapist, a Theraplay Therapist, Supervisor and Trainer as well as a Somatic Experience Practitioner. Jay is a Clinical Director at Family Futures CIC, a Voluntary Adoption Agency based in London and is also the Agency’s Responsible Person.
Family Futures specializes in the assessment and treatment of traumatized children placed in foster families, adoptive families or kinship care. Family Futures offers an assessment and treatment program entitled Neuro Physiological Psychotherapy, which integrates Somatic Experience as part of the assessment and treatment approach. Jay, as Clinical Director, still carries out some direct work with families and children.
Jay has been working with traumatized children since qualifying as a Dramatherapist in 1989, and passionately believes in the use of arts, play and body-based approaches in helping traumatized children and their families heal. She has contributed to articles and books over the years and continues to consult and train around the UK on behalf of Family Futures. Jay is a mother of two children and two step-children as well as a proud grandmother to her first grandchild. She can be contacted on jay@familyfutures.co.uk.
Philippa Kelly* has been a qualified social worker for over 22 years during this time Philippa has worked with young people, children and their birth families, fostering families, adoptive families and special guardianship. Philippa is a certified Theraplay practitioner, DDP level 1& 2 trained, is on the Theraplay Train the Trainer programme, and is in the Theraplay supervisor practicum, Philippa has recently completed the D-eis advance MIM training.
Philippa has worked in CAMHs, Local Authority Teams, an independent fostering agency and is now based in a psychological service, she has experience and skills in providing therapeutic interventions, such as Theraplay, Therapeutic Life Story Work, Creative Therapies. Philippa has gained specialist knowledge of attachment and developmental trauma.
Philippa works alongside and supports a wide range of professional, including social workers, clinical psychologist, teachers and support workers. She can be contacted on Philippa.kelly@gateway-psychology.co.uk.
Catherine Eveness* is a registered Social Worker (DipSW) since 2005, Certified Theraplay Practitioner (since 2016) and is in training as a Theraplay UK Supervisor and also a TTI Trainer in Training. Catherine currently works independently as Theraplay South West in Somerset. Catherine works as an Associate for Beacon Family Services, The Centre for Adoption Support and Education in Bristol, and has previously been the Lead Theraplay Outreach Worker for Bath and North East Somerset local authority. Catherine continues to provide Supervision groups for BANES. Catherine is also training in Sensory Attachment Intervention and is able to deliver the Safe and Sound Protocol and the Just Right State Programme. Catherine has specialised in working in adoption and fostering but has experience of Theraplay applied across a local authority in various settings and group work applications. She is committed to children and their families being able to access high quality therapeutic support with a preventative focus and values are centred in positive neurodivergent identity.
NOTE: * indicates this supervisor is still in training