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Arts Therapies and the Mental Health of Children and Young People

 Feeling very honoured to have contributed a chapter in this important book. ' 'Beans of Hope' - Building resilience through play psychotherapy for year-six pupils transitioning into secondary school' is a chapter documenting a project I ran in 2019/2020 in a local primary school and brings together many of my passions - working with children, play and creativity and emotional resilience.  I met the School's inspiring Head Teacher when she was given my book, 'Playful Awakening' by a wonderful foster carer I work with who happened to be a very good friend of the Head's.  The Head Teacher contacted me and invited me to work with her staff and the children on various projects.  She managed to secure funding for the 'Beans of Hope' project and away we went!

Many of my close friends and colleagues will know that I have quite an ambivalent relationship to schools.  Although I originally trained as a teacher, I never felt at home in the British Education system, and didn't pursue a career as a teacher.  

For me, meeting and working with this Head and teachers in this state school went a long way to helping me review my opinions.  I am in awe at their commitment, dedication and (dare I say) love for the children.  I told her on numerous occasions that had she been a Head Teacher in a school decades ago when I qualified, I may have been on a very different trajectory.  I would also be retired now!