TESSA Therapist
Location
Tyrone
Professional Registration & Ethics:
• PTUK – Accredited Play and Creative Arts Therapist and Clinical Supervisor
• BACP – Registered Member
• NISCC – Registered Member
I follow the ethical frameworks of PTUK, BACP, and NISCC, and uphold the highest standards of professional conduct in all my work.
Qualifications:
• BA (Hons) Fine & Applied Art
• Postgraduate Diploma in Play & Creative Arts Therapy
• BSc in Social Work
• Post-Qualifying Certificate in Clinical Supervision
• Specialist Award in Social Work
Experience:
With over 15 years’ professional experience, I have worked with children, young people, and families across health, education, and community settings. My roles have included Play & Creative Arts Therapist, Family Support Worker, Social Worker, Clinical Supervisor, Schools Link Officer, and Postgraduate Trainer.
I have extensive experience supporting children and young people who have experienced developmental trauma, attachment difficulties, and loss, including those with adoption and care backgrounds. I also advise senior school staff and deliver training on trauma-informed practice, bereavement, and loss. I continue to develop my skills through specialist training in parent–child attachment-based play and life story work.
Specialist Areas:
• Developmental trauma
• Attachment and relational difficulties
• Adoption and care-related experiences
• Loss, grief, and bereavement
• Emotional and behavioural difficulties
• Identity and life story work
Therapeutic Approach:
I use a warm, integrative, and child-centred approach, combining play, art, drama, sand tray, and storytelling to help children express feelings safely and make sense of experiences when words are difficult. Working with children aged 4–16, I tailor my approach to each child’s emotional and developmental needs, drawing on humanistic, neuroscientific, attachment-based, psychodynamic, developmental, and cognitive-behavioural methods. I create a secure, supportive space where trust, healing, and growth can occur, seeing each child as a unique individual within their family, school, and cultural context.
Personal Touch:
I am deeply committed to supporting adopted children and their families. I understand the impact that early loss and separation can have on a child’s emotional wellbeing and relationships. With a warm and creative approach, I provide a safe space for children to explore their feelings and work closely with adoptive parents to build understanding, trust, and secure attachment within the family.
