Kate has over 30 years experience working with children, young people and adults as teacher and Play Therapist. She has led two Expressive Arts Faculties(1989-2003) encouraging the young people to perform in public theatres and curate their own visual arts exhibitions in galleries and local community events.  “I became very aware of the power of the playful and creative instinct to drive away negative attitudes and bring out the best in young people”. Her research subject for an MA in education(PGDipEd 2003) was Creativity and Motivation.

Connection between the play instinct and creativity has continued to pre-occupy Kate’s interests. Kate is an accredited Play Therapist and Child Creative Therapist (PTUK, BACP) and Clinical Supervisor.  Creative Spark Play Therapy and SandplayTherapy (independent practice) supports children and young people to help themselves to heal hurts, resolve negative feelings and develop core resilience and self -regulation. 

Kate taught the Post Graduate Diploma course in Play Therapy for the UK organisation APAC in UK, Hong Kong, New Zealand and South East Asia for over 10 years. She provides regular creative training programmes for  Dry Arch Family and Community Centres in Northern Ireland as part of the Trauma Informed Community project and most recently has become Director of Health and Well-being for Circle of Life Rediscovery;

“My current focus is on developing workshop programmes which pass on what I have learned over the years and continue to learn about creativity, brain research, play and resilience ; coping with life’s ups and downs”