As an Accredited PTUK Play and Creative Arts Therapist and registered advanced clay therapist my clay journey began when I completed my clay therapy training with Lynne Souter Anderson that led on to my Masters research, where I used clay to explore the impact domestic violence has on the parent-child relationship and the possible healing power that clay can offer children to move forward within a stronger parental bond. I have continued to use clay daily in my therapeutic practice based in schools and other settings with families who experience difficult life challenges. Most recently my work with young people who are registered blind has shown how clay allows us to work at relational depth and be inclusive of all our community. I also interweave clay within DDP sessions with parents, using the grounding and connecting qualities that clay affords to help heal ruptures in the parent-child dyad. Finally, as a specialist clay clinical supervisor I off both therapists and teaching staff supervision that, as main stream schools’ inclusion levels continue to rise gives, them a space to explore ever-growing pressures that working in schools can bring.
