Author: Tessa

Music Therapist

Cathy is a compassionate and creative Allied Health Professional with a dual background in Social Work and Music Therapy. She brings many years of experience supporting children and young people in care, combining a trauma-informed and psychodynamically informed understanding of emotional wellbeing with the therapeutic and relational power of music.

Having worked closely with looked-after young people in residential and community settings, Cathy was inspired to train as a music therapist to deepen her focus on the psychological and emotional impact of trauma, loss, and transition. She is particularly interested in how creative, relational, and non-verbal approaches can help children process experiences that may be difficult to put into words.

Her practice is grounded in attachment-based and psychodynamic principles, creating safety and trust through playful, attuned, and reflective interaction. Cathy supports children in developing self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience, helping them to build stronger connections with themselves and others through musical expression.

Qualifications
MA in Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge (2025)
MA in Social Work from Queen’s University Belfast (2009
Dip in Social Work from Queen’s University Belfast (2009)
BSc in Social Administration and Policy from Ulster University (2001).

Registration Bodies
Registered Music Therapist (HCPC)
Registered Social Worker (NISCC)
Music Therapist (BAMT)

Before joining TESSA, Cathy founded Solace in Sound (NI), a mobile music therapy service providing accessible, client-centred sessions across community and home settings. Her previous experience includes therapeutic work in residential care, education, and dementia support, offering both individual and group interventions.

A passionate community advocate, Cathy believes music offers a safe and meaningful way for children to connect, communicate, and heal. She is committed to creating nurturing spaces where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered through sound and relationship.

CREATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPIST & PLAY THERAPIST
working with Children, Adolescents and Adults

Paddy McNicholl works with children, adolescents and adults and she loves her job as a Play Therapist and a Creative Psychotherapist and is delighted to be able to work therapeutically with all ages and stages of life.

Paddy takes both a humanistic and integrative approach to her work. The humanistic approach means she believes in the inherent worth of a person, and her aim is to help them deal with life more successfully. Because each person is unique, with a unique set of needs and experiences, Paddy integrates different models of therapy to best support them. Building a therapeutic relationship based on safety and trust is the most important factor for her in creating therapeutic change for all her clients.

With children and young people:
Paddy uses play, the natural language of children to support them through their muddles and struggles. Play allows children to communicate their thoughts, feelings and beliefs and with Paddy as their play partner, they can process difficult life experiences, making sense of their world and better able to cope with their future. Paddy works with parents and carers as partners in this process to ensure the best outcomes for their child and their family.

With parents:
Paddy is also a Filial Therapy Informed Practitioner where she supports parents to learn how to conduct special play sessions with their children to unlock the therapeutic powers of play and build a stronger connection between parent and child. She is passionate about supporting and empowering parents to develop and strengthen their relationship with their children using play.

Qualifications:
Paddy has an MA is Creative Psychotherapy with a specialism in Play Therapy from the Children’s Therapy Centre, a Postgraduate-Diploma in Youth and Community Work and a Diploma in Person Centred Counselling. She is a member of the professional body BACP and accredited with IAPTP . She has over 10 years’ experience working as a counsellor and as a qualified Youth and Community Worker with 15 years’ experience working with a diversity of groups, she enjoys facilitating and delivering programmes using creative approaches.