FOUNDER AND CLINICAL DIRECTOR

I have spent the last 30 years of my career working with families and children, and it is work that I am passionate about.

I initially trained and worked as a counsellor supporting adults both privately and in health care, before deciding to follow my dream of working with young children and becoming a primary school teacher.

I trained in Early Years teaching with a specific interest and specialism in teaching young children to learn through creative play. My career as an early year’s specialist began in teaching and supporting children and families in a nursery school within a Sure Start Childrens Centre. Our approach and ethos were founded on the principles of supporting child led learning,  whilst also working in close partnership with parents, careers  and other professionals to achieve the best outcomes for the children in our care. 

My teaching career took me to various primary schools, where I further built on my interest in supporting Vulnerable children and their families, and I made the decision to train to become a Special Educational Needs teacher (SENCO). The role enabled me to gain a huge amount of knowledge and experience supporting primary school aged children with additional needs and their families,  working in a multi-disciplinary way.

During this time, I also became a mother of twins with additional needs, and I realised first-hand the huge challenges that parents of children with additional needs face daily. Within my role of school SENCO I also had a unique perspective and understanding of how schools with limited budgets, training  and expertise, were struggling to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children 

It was during this time that I was very lucky to meet a Play Therapist, who had been employed by our school to support some of our most vulnerable children with challenging behaviour and complex needs. I was truly amazed at the difference that the therapy made to the children’s lives in a relatively short space of time. I watched with curiosity and interest at how the creative therapist was able to very quickly regulate, connect and make the children in her care feel safe, and how this impacted their behaviour in such positive and life changing ways. 

I had my lightbulb moment; I wanted to train to be a creative therapist!  It made total sense to me to harness my lived experience to create a unique offering. I could create a service that would provide therapeutic support to children, as well as much needed knowledge and training to parents and professionals who were struggling to support their children’s big, baffling behaviours daily. Hence Creative Connections Therapy, and The Connected Parent was born.

I am so glad that you have found us and that you can become part of our growing community.  I am so looking forward to working with you all, there is no need to feel alone on this tough parenting journey anymore.

Love Debbie x

INTEGRATED THERAPIST

Hi, I’m Jennie, a certified Play Therapist registered with PTUK. 

My journey into play therapy began through my work as a teacher, where I saw first-hand how children often communicate their feelings through their behaviour rather than words. I became passionate about creating spaces where children could feel understood, accepted and supported, which led me to train as a Play Therapist.

I have a Psychology degree, Qualified Teacher Status, and many years of experience working with children and their families. Throughout my career, I have supported children with a wide range of emotional, social and behavioural needs, including anxiety, low self-esteem, friendship difficulties and emotional regulation challenges.

My approach is warm, nurturing and child-led. I believe that every child deserves time and space to be themselves. Through play, creativity and a trusting therapeutic relationship, I provide a safe space where children can express themselves freely, develop a deeper understanding of who they are and discover their own path forward.

INTEGRATED THERAPIST

I have worked with children and families for over 15 years, beginning my career in a specialist provision school supporting children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions. During this time, I developed a particular interest in how play facilitated connection, communication and learning. Alongside my work, I obtained a degree in Psychology before going on to study for my Postgraduate Certificate in Education and qualifying as a primary school teacher. 

During my years in education, I developed a real love for creating playful and memorable learning experiences, using games, role play and creative activities to engage children and help them learn in ways that felt meaningful to them. I also became increasingly interested in children’s emotional wellbeing and in finding ways to support children to understand and manage their emotions. This growing interest led me to explore how I could support children in a more individual and meaningful way and ultimately led me to train as a play therapist. 

 I became a qualified Therapeutic Play Practitioner in 2026 and I am currently continuing my studies towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy. Throughout my training and therapeutic work, I have developed a particular interest in non-directive, child-led play therapy and have seen the positive impact of this approach on children’s confidence, self-esteem and emotional wellbeing. 

 Through a child-led approach, children are given the freedom to take the lead in their sessions, make their own choices and work at their own pace. My role is to provide a warm, safe and accepting environment and to develop a trusting therapeutic relationship in which children feel able to express themselves through their play. 

 One of the things I enjoy most about play therapy is watching children gradually become more confident and comfortable within the therapeutic space. I value the relationships that develop when children are given the freedom to go at their own pace and it is incredibly rewarding to see them develop trust in the therapeutic relationship and a growing belief in their own strengths. 

INTEGRATED THERAPIST

Hello, I’m Hayley, a qualified Play Therapist with a background in early childhood, children and young people’s mental health, and family support.

 I believe that every child is unique, and that sometimes children communicate their thoughts, feelings and experiences more easily through play than through words. Play can provide children with a safe and supportive space where they can explore their emotions, make sense of difficult experiences and develop new ways of coping.

 I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy and a Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills, alongside a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies. I am also a member of the PTUK register and have completed additional training in areas including adverse childhood experiences, creative mindfulness for children, suicide awareness and child safeguarding. I hold an enhanced DBS check.

 Alongside my work as a Play Therapist, I currently work within Hampshire CAMHS as a Mental Health Practitioner, where I support children, young people and their families through therapeutic interventions, assessments, care planning and mental health support. This experience has strengthened my understanding of the emotional and psychological difficulties that children and young people can experience, as well as the importance of working collaboratively with families and other professionals.

 My previous roles have included working as a Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner, Family Support Worker and Intervention Worker, supporting children and families with a wide range of emotional, developmental and family needs. I have also worked within specialist educational settings supporting children with autism and have experience creating nurturing, child-centred environments where children can feel safe, understood and able to flourish.

 I understand that reaching out for support for your child can feel like a big step. My aim is to create a warm, accepting and non-judgemental therapeutic relationship where your child feels listened to, respected and valued.

 I work at the child’s pace and use play as their natural language, allowing them to communicate and express themselves in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful to them. I also recognise the important role that parents and carers play in a child’s wellbeing and value working collaboratively with families throughout the therapeutic process.

 Whether your child is struggling to understand or express their emotions, experiencing anxiety or low mood, has experienced difficult or upsetting events, or is finding aspects of everyday life challenging, play therapy can offer them a dedicated space to explore what they are experiencing and begin to develop the skills and confidence they need to move forward.

 Above all, I want children to feel that they have a safe space to be themselves, to be heard and to be understood.

Meet Nutmeg our very own therapy dog!

Nutmeg is 9 years old and is a trained assistant dog. Therapy dogs help children in play therapy by providing a calming presence, promoting empathy, and helping children to learn to regulate their emotions. Therapy dogs can also help to reduce stress, anxiety, and build self-esteem which can improve outcomes for children. Animal assisted play therapy focuses on developing positive relationships between the therapist, animal, and client.

Nutmeg loves working with children at  Creative connections therapy and the children he works with all love Nutmeg. He is always there to welcome them in with a tail wag, he loves fun games, and most importantly he instinctively knows what each client needs,  being present in each moment no matter what they are feeling, with as a safe,  warm, reassuring and trusting presence.