Our Team

Service Manager & Play Therapist

Linda co-founded Play Therapy Base in 2011. Linda previously worked as a family support worker, supporting vulnerable children and their families since 1988. She has worked in Social Work, Education and the Voluntary Sector. Linda is an accredited Play Therapist who has specialised in working with hard to engage children, and who have volatile and challenging behaviours. She has experience in working with military families, supporting children through transition to primary, secondary and into foster placements. Linda has worked with children who have lost close family members through terminal illness. Linda has delivered small Play Therapy groups in primary schools in Midlothian.

Qualifications:

• Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play with Play Therapy UK (PTUK)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Practiced Based Play Therapy (PTUK)
• Intensive Filial Therapy
• S.N.N.E.B (Nursery Nurse)
• H.N.C in social care
• S.V.Q level 3

Registered with British Association of Play Therapy (BAPT)
Registered Clinical Supervisor with BAPT

Depute Service Manager & Creative Arts Therapist

Wendy joined Play Therapy Base in 2018. Wendy obtained her M.Sc. in Art Therapy from Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret’s University. As a registered Art therapist, Wendy has over eleven years’ experience working with individuals and groups, including adults, adolescents and children. She has worked extensively in education across Edinburgh and as part of the management team in the Youth Counselling service. Wendy was also Clinical Manager at the With Kids Edinburgh project, where she provided case management to other therapists and delivered Play Therapy in schools. Alongside her therapeutic work, Wendy is a practising artist and jeweller.

Qualifications:

• M.Sc. in Art Psychotherapy
• Honours Degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing

Registered with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Senior Practitioner (with responsibility for the Early Years Project)

Sue joined Play Therapy Base in 2015. Before joining us, Sue worked with children and their families in a variety of roles. She has 11 years experience within education and 4 years experience working within Midlothian Council Social Work Department as a Family Support Worker, working with vulnerable children and their families. Sue has worked intensively with children and young people with a variety of additional needs including social and emotional, challenging behaviours, school refusal and friendship & social difficulties. Sue also has several years’ experience of working with children at risk of being accommodated, and who have been affected by early trauma. Sue has also delivered group Play Therapy in primary school settings.

Sue has been a qualified Play Therapist since 2013, and is also a qualified Filial Therapist. In 2020 Sue took on the role of Senior Practitioner for Early Years with Play Therapy Base.

Qualifications:

• Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play with Play Therapy UK (PTUK)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Practiced Based Play Therapy (PTUK)
• Intensive Filial Training; BA in Childhood Practice
• HNC Childcare & Education

Registered with Play Therapy UK (PTUK)

Play Therapist

Esther joined Play Therapy Base as a student in 2015. In 2017, Esther joined the staff team. She has more than ten years of previous experience of working with children and young people. Esther specialises in working with children with additional needs and supporting their families. Esther has worked with children and young people with additional support needs and severe learning disabilities in different roles such as Early Years Practitioner, Early Years Officer, Senior Early Years Officer and Manager of an additional needs After School Club. Esther can also offer Play Therapy to children and young People in Spanish.

Qualifications:

• HNC Child Care and Early Years Education
• BA Childhood Practice
• Postgraduate Certificate in Play Therapy
• Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy

Registered with British Association of Play Therapy (BAPT)

Play Therapist

Lois joined Play Therapy Base as a student in 2017 before joining the staff team in 2019. Prior to beginning her play therapy training, Lois spent 20 years in the arts as an actor, performer, workshop leader and children’s theatre practitioner. During this time Lois engaged in a wide variety of work with children and young people. Her experience includes many years of touring primary schools in the UK in interactive theatre-in-education shows and workshops, co-facilitating a series of drama workshops for young adults in the Princes Trust Fairbridge Programme resulting in a public performance about their experiences with substance misuse, performing in a pilot project for primary aged children of alcoholic parents, working with 0-3 year olds in a unique sensory performance and performing in young offenders institutes around issues such as diversity and equality.

Qualifications:

• BA in Acting
• Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play

Registered with Play Therapy UK (PTUK)

Administrator

Stacey joined Play Therapy Base as a volunteer in 2014 before joining the staff team in 2017.

She is responsible for developing and maintaining data systems, data analysis and reporting, managing supplies and equipment, clerical and reception duties as well as supporting the staff team and families.

Stacey previously held senior positions in front line customer service, retail and hospitality as well as having experience in telephone and computer based roles. She has personal knowledge and experience of children with additional needs.

Qualifications:

• Professional Development Award in Data Science Level 7

Financial Administrator

Lorraine started as a volunteer in 2015. She became an employee in January 2016. She deals with book-keeping, invoices, payroll and pensions for Play Therapy Base. Lorraine has experience of being a parent helper in schools and a home educator.

Qualifications:

• B.Sc. (Ord.) Mathematical Sciences from University of Edinburgh

A.C.I.I. (Pensions) from Associate of Chartered Insurance Institute

Play Therapist

Julie joined Play Therapy Base in 2023 having completed an MSc in Play Therapy at Queen Margaret University, during which time she was a student with Play Therapy Base.

Julie has over 25 years of experience working in the early years and has held key worker roles with children and families across a number of early years settings. The children that Julie has worked with have had wide ranging early experiences and she has extensive experience of working with children with additional support needs including social and emotional and autism spectrum difference /disorder.

Qualifications:

• MSc in Play Therapy
• BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies
• Psychology of childhood and Youth Level 2
• Understanding the Autism Spectrum Level 1

Registered with British Association of Play Therapy (BAPT)

Play Therapist

Laura joined Play Therapy Base in 2019. Laura worked with children and families for many years in a variety of settings, including as a Hospital Play Specialist, before qualifying as Play Therapist in 2010; she completed her Filial Therapy training the same year. She has experience working with bereaved children, and children affected by violence and substance misuse, and has worked in schools providing individual Play Therapy sessions for children with behavioural and social difficulties, and problematic family relationships; she also has experience working with children with disabilities and complex needs.

Laura has also attended numerous professional development trainings and workshops, with a particular focus on attachment, and on the impact of trauma, neglect, loss and bereavement, on the developing child. In addition to her qualification in Filial Therapy, Laura also trained and worked with the Child-Parent Relationship Therapy model.

Qualifications:

• MA in Play Therapy from Roehampton University
• Intensive Filial Therapy Training Program
• MA (RS) from the University of Edinburgh
• Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT)

Registered with British Association of Play Therapy (BAPT)

Play Therapist

Yuliya joined Play Therapy Base in 2018. Yuliya started her career as a teacher, working in kindergartens, primary and high schools with children aged 2 to 19 years old. Since 2011 Yuliya has been working therapeutically with children, aged 3-12 years old, affected by any forms of abuse and/or neglect and complex trauma. Yuliya provides Play Therapy, Filial Therapy and support for parents/carers. She previously worked within the voluntary sector organisations and on a freelance basis in nurseries and primary schools.

Qualifications:

• Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy
• Intensive Filial Therapy Programme
• Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play
• Child and Adolescent Counselling, Level 6 (Scotland)
• BA in Education
• Diploma(Hons) in Kindergarten Education

Registered with British Association of Play Therapy (BAPT)

Play Therapist

Lesley joined Play Therapy Base in 2019 as a MSc Play Therapy student from Queen Margaret University and successfully qualified in July 2021. Before training as a Play Therapist, Lesley was a primary school teacher for almost 30 years, working with children between 3-12 years old in schools in both Mid- and East Lothian.

Qualifications:

• MSc In Play Therapy
• Honours B.Ed in Primary Education

Registered with British Association of Play Therapy (BAPT)

Play Therapist

Elaine joined Play Therapy Base as a Freelance Play Therapist in 2013 until 2015 when she left to take up a full time early years teaching role. She then returned to us in 2020 as a full time Play Therapist.

Elaine has 30 years teaching experience in primary, nursery and EAL settings. She also has 3 years experience in a senior management role in early years. For 10 years Elaine delivered Play Therapy, Filial Therapy and Theraplay principles to small groups of children and working one to one with parents and children.

Qualifications:

• Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play with Play Therapy UK (PTUK)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Practiced Based Play Therapy (PTUK)
• MA Honours Degree in Psychology
• COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills
• PGCE in Teaching
• Theraplay Skills Stage 1 and Group Theraplay
• Intensive Filial Therapy training
• Froebel in Early Childhood Education

Registered with British Association of Play Therapy (BAPT)

Art Therapist

Sophie joined Play Therapy Base in 2021. Sophie has six years of previous experience of working with children and young people with profound learning difficulties, ASD and complex needs in residential and community settings.

After completing her MA in Psychology at Aberdeen University, Sophie gained experience as a physiotherapy assistant supporting rehabilitation programmes for people with learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries and dementia. Sophie has also coordinated therapeutic groups and activities within a hospital ward as a patient support worker.

With Barnardo’s Sophie has supported children, families, and young adults with complex behavioural needs and learning disabilities to live together, enjoy activities within their community and develop skills to grow towards adulthood within a number of residential settings in Edinburgh.

Sophie has completed placements with Edinburgh based schools to promote positive transitions for Primary 7 students as they move into secondary school whilst supporting their mental health and wellbeing using art therapy.

Sophie also has experience of working with veterans to process trauma and build interpersonal relationships within an NHS Veteran support service.

Qualifications:

• M.Sc. in Art Psychotherapy
• MA Psychology

Registered with British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Play Therapist

Sacha joined Play Therapy Base as a student in 2020. In 2023, Sacha joined the staff team to work in a school setting. She graduated from Queen Margaret University with a MSc in Play Therapy. Before this Sacha gained her HNC in Childhood Practice, working in early years settings and within a charity supporting families in the community. Alongside 7 years of experience working with children and young people, Sacha brings diverse life experiences and lived experience of neurodiversity that are supportive to play therapy work. Sacha has worked with children and their families affected by trauma, parental separation and neurodiversity.

Qualifications:

• MSc in Play Therapy, Queen Margaret University
• HNC in Childhood Practice, Edinburgh College

Registered with the British Association of Play Therapy (BAPT)