About Me
Hello...
My name is Susan, and I am an Accredited Play & Creative Therapist, graduated with a distinction, registered with PTUK, and therapist for Dear Soul Play & Creative Therapy.
I have over 20 years experience working with children, families, and vulnerable adults, as a registered Social Worker, with much of that time within the Fostering & Adoption field, and Children & Families; working with children and their parents and carers, at times of need and risk, with separation, loss, relational-trauma, and change. I was an Adoption Panel member for 6 years; and have led assessment, training and support work in fostering, adoption and post-adoption fields. I retrained as Play and Creative Therapist, and have worked in an inner city school setting for over four years.
I work through an integrated lens including Erikson’s psychosocial model of development, child-led Play Therapy principles and ethics, work with symbols and meaning, and the Play Therapy Dimensions lens of assessing and tracking play, connection and progress. I offer supportive sessions with parents and carers, informed by the Theraplay model, PACE, Secure Base, and Play Therapy principles.
Passions & interests:
The transformative therapeutic magic of play and creativity, for all ages.
Working with symbols and metaphors through play & creativity.
Embracing diversity and inclusion in all I do.
Understanding neurodiversity, and children who are neurodivergent, through play and creativity.
Understanding trauma-play, and responding to relational and developmental trauma in the play space.
Sensory and somatic awareness. Kindness.
Qualifications & Training
BA (hons) in Sociology & Social Policy
Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work (DipSW)
Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills (University of Ireland, Galway)
Post Graduate Diploma in Play & Creative Therapy (Leeds Beckett University, Distinction)
Theraplay (level one)
Training also completed with:
Anna Freud Centre, London & the Trauma UK Council
Brooks (Traffic Lights)
Lucy Faithful Foundation
Margot Sunderland, Dan Hughes,
Safeguarding & Prevent
What people say about the service...
Parents & Carers
"I would absolutely recommend play therapy to anyone who would benefit from it. It's helped my daughter so much with her anxiety and worries, and has taught her so many ways to express her worries when she has them".
"Thanks for all your help - we are really lucky to have you on board"
"Play therapy is the main reason my child will come into school" (child at risk of emotionally based school refusal).
Teachers & TAs
"Informative, practical and engaging"
"Engaging and very relevant to children in school".
"It is so interesting how intricate the play sessions are - how they benefit the children - it's great".
Staff workshop feedback
Head Teachers
"Thank you so much - such a powerful and informative session".
"I could do a shout out for you every week- you have such a huge, positive impact on the children we serve and the staff team...
Thank you for the difference you make".
Services I offer...
I work in school settings, and can offer school contracts on a regular basis, where I offer 1-1 play therapy, group play therapy, parent sessions, staff workshops, & parent /carer workshops.
I am also contracted with a Local Authority to provide individual play therapy support on request.
All services are subject to availability and sometimes I work with a waiting list. All enquiries are welcome.
For further information, and a free no obligation visit (to school), or free telephone consultation for individual work or contract commissions, please contact me at susan@dearsoultherapy.co.uk, please see contacts page :)
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