Alongside this, as project manager for a pioneering ecotherapy project for adults with mental health needs, I was responsible for the management and delivery of the project from its inception through to it receiving funding from local healthcare funding streams. This triple award-winning project aimed to improve mental well-being by engaging people in conservation and horticulture activities, based on a nature reserve in North Nottinghamshire.
I moved to the United States in 2014 and I worked in early intervention, providing therapeutic services to young children aged 0-3 with developmental delays. I was responsible for coordinating and delivering services for families in an area of socio-economic deprivation. Families would have multiple and complex needs and children had often experienced trauma and stress leading to emotional and behavioural issues and poor developmental outcomes. I responded to these needs by adopting a collaborative approach with the families themselves, other co-workers and wider support networks. I have represented the program on an early childhood mental health forum, and I have also delivered training workshops to other early intervention practitioners on using music as a therapeutic intervention.
I moved back to my home town of Totnes, UK in December 2016, and I am now offering services in South Devon. I have a private practice in Ashburton, near Totnes and I also work for Chroma, a national organisation who offer creative therapies. My approach is collaborative, always seeking to involve families in therapeutic work where possible.
I draw from a range of approaches in my work including psychodynamic, humanistic, neuro-developmental and body-oriented approaches, and I also draw from attachment and trauma theory and mindfulness meditation techniques. I have studied and use various autism-specific approaches such as Intensive Interaction. After attending a training with Margot Sunderland on using other creative techniques with children, my approach has expanded to include other creative modalities such as sand-play, puppetry, art and song-writing. Primarily my approach seeks to make a connection, validating a person's unique and authentic self, and giving them permission and encouragement to express themselves and creatively explore new ways of being.
My HCPC registration number is AS13418. I am DBS checked (enhanced) and I hold professional indemnity insurance.
I first became interested in music therapy soon after qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 2003. After eperiencing an episode of severe depression in 2001 I was increasingly drawn to psychological interventions and to helping others who were going through similar experiences. As an Occupational Therapist I specialised in neuro-rehabilitation and I was lucky enough to work with a Music Therapist who gave me some insights into music therapy and inspired me to pursue this as the next step in my career.
I qualified as a Music Therapist in 2008 and worked for 6 years in private practice and in schools with children with autism, emotional and behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities, and with adults with profound learning and physical disabilities.
