I have been self-employed since 2014.  Since then I have worked with dementia patients in care homes and palliative care patients at a hospice, as well as with several adult clients experiencing the impact of childhood trauma.  The bulk of my work has been to work with children and families.

Leeds Beckett University and Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust:                                                                                                                    I was  involved for three years in the Art Therapy Northern Programme, running a weekly training group on the year 1 MA Art Psychotherapy.  This was an experiential group where students were invited to engage in art making.  My role was to facilitate this group, creating a safe and contained space, and enable reflection as well as theoretical learning through the process.

Foster Care Associates:
I had the role of therapist within an integrated multi-disciplinary team in a foster care agency. As well as offering the staff team consultation, I provided this to foster carers, aiming to support them in maintaining empathy for the child as they experienced their difficult and challenging behaviours as well as advice on how to manage these therapeutically. I also provided consultation to external agencies such as education and local authorities. I was responsible for delivering training and facilitating groups for carers. We followed a Team Parenting Model which is a systemic approach, and I was responsible for organising and chairing meetings that brought together carers and professionals from fields such as education, the mental health service and local authorities, who were involved in the child’s life.

SACCS Care Ltd:
I practised as a Therapist with Looked After Children in my post at SACCS. This was an organisation providing a recovery service to traumatised children in residential care. It was an integrative service that provided a three tier model: therapeutic parenting, life story, and therapy. The children I worked with had, for the majority, been sexually, physically and emotionally abused and suffered severe neglect as well as having a number of unsuccessful foster placements.

Qualifications:
Postgraduate Diploma Art Psychotherapy
University of Sheffield – June 2004

C & G 7306 FE Teachers Certificate: NVQ4 Training and Development
York College of Further and Higher Education – June 1999

BA (Hons) Fine Art & Printmaking
Loughborough College of Art and Design – June 1998

Membership and registration:
British Association of Art Therapists
Health and Care Professions Council

Other:
DBS Enhanced Certificate
Bilingual English/ French