Qualifications –
Avalon is a certified, registered, experienced Creative Play Therapist.
Avalon has completed level one and two of Dyadic Developmental Practice and is in the process of completing her practicum to qualify as a Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapist. This is attachment focused therapeutic work with children and their parents/carers to support their attachment relationship, parenting skills, interactions, and emotional needs. This training is based on the work of Dan Hughes and PACE (playful, acceptance, curiosity and empathy) to better respond to others’ behaviour and emotions.
Being on the practicum includes recording some of her sessions with families in order to be assessed by her DDP consultant. Avalon has regular supervision with her consultant supervisor to ensure she is developing the skills required and recognised as DDP.
Avalon has a post graduate diploma in Play Therapy with the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC); and an honours degree in Early Childhood Studies. She has completed her training in clinical supervision with Play Therapy UK (PTUK) and is a registered member. Avalon also works for the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC) and has qualified as a teacher of the post graduate certificate level course in therapeutic play skills alongside Leeds Beckett University.
Avalon has also completed Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) training (both level 1&2) (September/December 2019) which is also based on the theory of attachment, and supports parents to understand their blocks to parenting and overcoming them, alongside supporting children to understand their experiences within their family. This has complimented her learning the DDP model.
Avalon has also completed Therapeutic Life Story training with Carly Kingswood (2019).
Experience –
Avalon has over 10 years of experience working with children in a variety of settings. In the past she has worked in nursery settings, a domestic violence charity, and a children of alcoholics charity, supporting children and other professionals. She has also worked for over 5 years within a Children In Care Team for social services working therapeutically and creatively with children in care, adopted children, and care leavers. She is experienced in completing therapeutic life story work with children from her time working in social services, and has completed additional training in this.
Avalon also worked for 3 years as a Creative Attachment Therapist for Catchpoint, a therapeutic organisation supporting the attachment between adopted children and their parents. Here she built her experience and skills of working with children and their parents together before taking these skills out into her private practice and beginning her DDP training.
Avalon now works as a sole trader on a self employed basis offering therapy to children and families and supervision to other professionals.
Avalon also offers training or taster days to organisations. These can be designed to meet an organisation’s specific needs in areas relating to parenting skills, communication with children, children who have experienced trauma, working on parents/carers own trauma, attachment theory, neuroscience and child development, play therapy, etc.
Government Regulated Membership and Professional Requirements-
Avalon is registered as completing DDP level 1 and 2 and is now DDP registered as a trainee in DDP. She is in the process of completing her practicum to complete her training and become a Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapist.
Avalon can be found on the PTUK register as a certified Play Therapist and clinical supervisor.
PTUK was the first play therapy organisation to be regulated by a governing body. PTUK has been regulated by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) for Health and Social Care since 2013 and was 1 of 4 out of 40 organisations accepted onto the PSA scheme of Approved Registers at the time. The PSA is an independent authoritative body who report to parliament on health and social care regulation in the UK. The PSA have 39 standards which PTUK adhere to to ensure the quality and safe regulation of all the practitioners on their register.
Avalon also adheres to PTUK’s 6 ethical principles of practice to ensure she is giving children and young people a safe and high quality service.
Avalon is also registered as an individual member with BACP.
Avalon has a current, clear DBS certificate and is fully insured. She also has an up to date Data Protection number and adheres to the new data protection regulation. Avalon has a safeguarding and data protection policy.