My Story

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (The Little Prince)

Early Interests

I have always been interested in aspects of our experience we cannot perceive with our senses, but can feel intuitively… I was a very sensitive and introverted only child, who took refuge in nature, stories and my imagination, especially due to my own experiences of childhood trauma.  

The Call to Change

During my forties, I became increasingly disenchanted with modern psychology and its emphasis on the quantifiable and the ‘known’. I felt compelled to dismantle the over-developed logical, analytical and intellectual aspects of myself, and to recover the somewhat neglected, more intuitive, sensitive and emotional aspects of my nature.

Freelance Work

This led me to train to become a sandplay therapist with the Association for Sandplay Therapy, and in 2019, I left Local Authority EP work, in order to became a freelance, independent child and educational psychologist, aiming to serve my local community using the knowledge and skills I had acquired.

Specialist Trauma Therapy

Between 2021 and 2024 I worked as a sandplay therapist with children and young people with very significant and complex trauma in a specialist residential and therapeutic setting catering for students with social, emotional and mental health needs.  I now work as a freelance therapist with children, young people and adults, offering a safe and healing space for change.

Transpersonal Psychology

Nowadays, my work is firmly rooted in Transpersonal Psychology - sometimes known as Depth or Jungian Psychology. I aim to recover the soul – or psyche - in psych-ology, and my work is heavily influenced by my love of nature, storytelling and imagination, as well as my interests in the human psyche, philosophy, spirituality, mythology and anthropology.

Doctoral Research

My doctoral research in Applied Transpersonal Psychology focuses on how sandplay therapy addresses the psychological impact of childhood trauma through storytelling, imagination and symbolism. I have come to believe that healing can be activated from within, and that working at deeper levels is often more effective than talking alone.

Neurodiversity & Complex Needs

Having extensive expertise and interest in both trauma and neurodiversity (Autism, ADHD), I carry out complex needs psychology assessments with children and young people from 0- 18 years, and deliver consultancy and training to schools and other organisations. Assessments take place in my home, in a beautiful rural village near the Cotswold Way, backing onto ancient beech woods and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

My background

My professional background is in teaching. After completing a degree in French, Italian and History, including the experience of teaching students in France for a year, I was inspired to complete initial teacher training and begin a career as a history teacher in an Oxford secondary school in 1999.  

I quickly developed an interest in supporting the most challenging and vulnerable students in my care and decided to leave teaching to pursue a career in psychology.  In particular, I was curious to better understand how school staff could help young people with emotional needs to engage in education.

I undertook two Masters Degrees in psychology and focused my research dissertations on how schools could support young people who self-harm, and later, how schools could promote the resilience of disaffected young people at risk of permanent exclusion.  This led onto my interest in the key protective factors that buffer vulnerable young people from adversity and risk, and increase their long-term emotional resilience.   

Educational psychology

After leaving teaching in 2001, I began a career as an assistant educational psychologist (EP) in Newport, South Wales, for a year. Part of this role involved supporting research into the effectiveness of Nurture Groups in disadvantaged areas of the city.

Alongside this work, I completed a certificate in the theory and practice of Nurture Groups.  This was formative in developing my awareness of the role of attachment-based, nurturing approaches in the healthy development and resilience of vulnerable children.  

During my ten years as an educational psychologist for Worcestershire County Council, between 2004 and 2014, I supported vulnerable students with a wide range of complex needs, including autism, ADHD and social, emotional and mental health needs. I also continued to develop a specialist interest in early child development.  

After having my first child, I was motivated to research the importance of nurturing touch and face-to-face interaction in attachment development, so received backing to train as a Certified Infant Massage Instructor with the International Association of Infant Massage. 

Following this, keen to share these insights with other parents and carers, I co-created an early parenting training package for Children Centre staff that taught the building blocks of parent-infant attachment (‘Together Time’), which was commissioned by Worcestershire Children’s Centres in 2007.  

Specialist work

In 2014, I began working for Gloucestershire County Council’s educational psychology service and was given the role of specialist senior educational psychologist for social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) in 2016.

In this position, I specialised in the areas of developmental and complex trauma, early parent-infant attachment and attachment needs, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and resilience, emotional literacy support assistant (ELSA) training, adolescent mental health needs including self-harm, and effective school-based therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and sensory / attachment interventions.

In addition to this work, I completed a year of training in CBT with the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre (OCTC) and also trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and became a ‘Relax Kids’ coach.

Furthermore, due to my interest in attachment, I attended a two-day training course in Sensory Attachment Interventions for children with trauma (by the consultant Occupational Therapist & attachment counsellor Eadaoin Breathnach) and carried out initial two-day training in Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) – a relationship-based intervention (developed by the Educational Psychologist Hilary Kennedy) that promotes attunement, empathy and wellbeing both in families and in schools.  

Because of my specialist research into complex trauma, I also completed training in the delivery of ‘Teaching Recovery Techniques’ to refugee children impacted by war or experiences of migration in 2018, which included using trauma-focused CBT techniques and a modified form of EMDR with children. In 2019, I obtained a Diploma in Trauma and Mental Health Informed Schools.  

Influencing local policy on ACEs, trauma & resilience

As a specialist senior EP for social, emotional and mental health (SEMH), I was privileged to be given a countywide lead in the development of trauma informed practice, delivering training to schools and organising a conference in June 2018 which brought together a large number of the community to discuss trauma, its effects and what adults can do to help. 

As part of this role, I was a member of the county’s “ACEs Panel” supporting the implementation of the local ACE’s strategy in Gloucestershire alongside community leads from police, health, social care and education sectors. This was a wonderful opportunity to influence strategic work in the area of resiliency-building in local schools and communities across the county. 

Throughout lockdown, whilst working freelance, I went on to develop and deliver my own six module, online resiliency programme for schools known as REACH - “Resiliency Enabling Approaches for Children”. This was based on my extensive research into the area of resilience and the books & resources I have produced on this topic.

In 2021, I was invited to be a Keynote Speaker at the Action on ACEs conference in Gloucestershire, along with colleagues who had been integral to the development of a countywide training programme in trauma informed and relational practices. In 2023, I was also honoured to be a Keynote Speaker at the national conference of the Association for Sandplay Therapy. In 2024, I was the Keynote Speaker at the first ELSA conference held in Gloucestershire.

In addition to this, I am delighted to be an annual visiting lecturer on resilience for the University of Bristol’s trainee educational psychologists (TEPs) and my PhD research focuses on how children and young people recover from trauma.

I offer…

Educational Psychology

I offer psychology assessments for children and young people with complex needs, including trauma and neurodiversity. I also work with schools, offering consultation & support.

Sandplay therapy / other therapies

I specialise in psychotherapeutic work with children who have trauma. I am trained in Sandplay therapy and several other effective therapies for children and young people with mental health needs.

Training

I am an experienced trainer and public speaker in areas such as resilience, trauma, attachment, using the expressive arts & storytelling, and more. I have also delivered keynote speeches at conferences.

My training

Main Formal Qualifications:

  • PhD Research Student in Applied Transpersonal Psychology (Liverpool John Moores University / Alef Trust)

  • MEd Educational Psychology with Distinction (University of Bristol)

  • MEd Psychology in Education with Distinction (University of Bristol)

  • PGCE Teaching Qualification (History Secondary) (University College Worcester)

  • BA Hons Degree (History, French, Italian) (University of Leeds)

Training Courses, Certificates & Diplomas:

  • Registered Sandplay Therapist (STR) with the Association for Sandplay Therapy (AST)

  • 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training with ‘My Vinyasa Practice’ (to be completed…)

  • Emotion Coaching (2-Day Core Training)

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) including using ACT with trauma (Multiple days/ ongoing)

  • Drawing and Talking Therapy (1-Day Foundation Training)

  • Diploma in Trauma & Mental Health Informed Schools (TISUK) (12 Day Course)

  • Certified Infant Massage Instructor with the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) (4 Days),

  • Certificate in the Theory and Practice of Nurture Groups (nurtureuk) (4 Days)

Continuing Professional Development (CPD):

  • A range of training courses whilst working as an EP in Gloucestershire EPS, including Restorative Practice 2x days (Molly MacLeod / GCC), ‘Teaching Recovery Techniques’ for refugee children impacted by war or experiences of migration (Yule, Dyregrov, Raundalen, & Smith, 2013) (2-Day training) (Children and War Foundation), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Courses (Blocks 2 - 5) (Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre - OCTC) (8 days), Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) (Hilary Kennedy) (2-Day initial training), Sensory Attachment Interventions for Children with Trauma (Eadaoin Breathnach) (2-Day training), Trauma Informed Approaches (Betsy de Thierry) (Bath) 4x days, Attachment in the Classroom 1x day (Heather Geddes), Resilience Conference 1x day (Lisa Cherry) (Manchester), Dynamic Assessment / Cognitive Abilities Profile (Dr Ruth Deutsch), Zippy’s Friends (Social Skills / Bereavement Programme), Therapeutic Parenting (Dan Hughes / PACE), Person-Centred Planning: PATH, MAPS, and Circles of Support, and facilitating ‘Big Pictures’…and more.  

  • A range of training courses whilst working as an EP in Worcestershire EPS, including Understanding and Supporting (Looked After Children) with Attachment Needs (Kim Golding), FRIENDS (Resilience Programme), Parenting Puzzle / Family Links (Parenting), Resilience Conferences/ Events (with Robbie Gilligan) (London), Self-Harm Conferences (Jan Sutton / Self-Harm Alliance) (Cheltenham), Precision Teaching, Appreciative Inquiry, Motivational Interviewing, Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)…and more.

  • A range of courses whilst an Assistant Psychologist for Newport Educational Psychology Service, including understanding sensory & physical needs from Occupational Therapists, communication and interaction needs from Speech and Language Therapists & cognition and learning needs from Advisory Teachers / Specialist Teachers. Courses on supporting children with a range of complex and / or social-emotional needs, including PECs, TEACCh, Teaching Talking, SPEIC, Brain Gym and The Class Moves, Circle Time, Circle of Friends, Anger Management, Peer Support, TEAM TEACH, Assertive Discipline and Coping with Kids (Parenting)…and more.

  • Training whilst a secondary school teacher: Adolescent Self-Harm and Suicide - One Day Conference (Samaritans and Professor Keith Hawton) (Oxford); Developing Literacy and Thinking Skills in Underachieving Boys.

Training Completed During Masters Degrees:

  • Relational & effective personal communication approaches taught as part of my second MEd in Educational Psychology, including Joint/ Collaborative Problem Solving models (Consultation), Personal Construct Psychology (Phil Stringer), Egan’s Skilled Helper model, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (BRIEF), Narrative Therapy, Conflict Resolution and Assertiveness Techniques. 

  • Other modules in my second Masters degree included: Child Development, Assessment, Inclusion, Emotional Maturity & Behaviour, and Research Methods.

  • Counselling approaches taught as part of my first MEd in Psychology of Education module on Guidance and Counselling in Education, including Person-Centred Counselling (Carl Rogers), CBT, Transactional Analysis, and Psychodynamic perspectives. 

  • Other modules in my first Masters degree included: Cognition and Learning Difficulties; Communication and Interaction Difficulties; Sensory and Physical Difficulties; Educating Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties; Psychology of the Development of Language, Literacy and Cognition including Neuropsychology; Developmental Psychology of Personality and Socialisation; Statistics in Education; Research Methods – Introduction to Educational Inquiry.

Memberships:

  • Board Member of the Association for Sandplay Therapy (AST) https://sandplayassociation.com/

  • Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) with BPS. Practising Certificate number: 133534

  • Registered Practitioner Psychologist with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) Number: PYL21571

Guiding principles & practices…

I have felt incredibly grateful to have found meaning and purpose in my own daily spiritual practices, such as meditation and yoga. Whatever else is happening in my life, my supportive spiritual practices are a constant, and the principles behind these practices have guided me to find compassionate self-healing and renewed spiritual growth. 

Like Jung’s concept of the ‘Self’, I believe that we all have an innate, authentic and unique spirit that runs through us and connects us all to each other, and to the natural world and cosmos. Given the right environment, we can align with this vital life force, allowing its deeply creative energy to manifest fully, thereby enabling the natural, joyful state of being alive to guide us towards “spontaneous right action”. 

In addition to spiritual practices, I have also found solace in the natural world. Nature - and the writing that it inspires in me - has been a source of huge comfort that has buffered me from the impact of suffering in my life.  In fact, I believe it may have saved my life.  The relationship I have cultivated with the wild has helped to inform a healthier relationship with myself and with others. It has also enabled me to transform brokenness into beauty, despair into hope, and pain into acceptance. 

In my spare time, as well as writing, I love reading, going for long walks in the woods, hiking up hills, birdwatching, wild swimming, travelling, learning new languages, camping under stars, lying on the grass in the sunshine, cooking & eating good food, drawing, playing & listening to music, and dancing.

I live near a beautiful part of the Cotswold Way in Stroud (UK) with my two children and my cat Smudge – although I occasionally hear the call of the sea and escape to the wildness of West Wales.  My heritage is mixed Italian and British-Celtic.

“Heal yourself with the light of the sun and the rays of the moon. With the sound of the river and the waterfall. With the swaying of the sea and the fluttering of birds. Heal yourself with mint, neem, and eucalyptus. Sweeten with lavender, rosemary, and chamomile. Hug yourself with the cocoa bean and a hint of cinnamon. Put love in tea instead of sugar and drink it looking at the stars. Heal yourself with the kisses that the wind gives you and the hugs of the rain. Stand strong with your bare feet on the ground and with everything that comes from it. Be smarter every day by listening to your intuition, looking at the world with your forehead. Jump, dance, sing, so that you live happier. Heal yourself, with beautiful love, and always remember…you are the medicine.” - María Sabina, Mexican healer and poet

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”
― Carl Gustav Jung