Meet The Team
Management Team
Management Team
Laura - Director
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Laura is the owner of The Butterfly Room. A Chartered Developmental Psychologist who has been working with autistic children and families for 8 years both within the NHS and private sector. Laura specialises in supporting families with challenging behaviours such as anxiety, anger and sleep difficulties via implementing strategies and interventions. Laura is a published and active researcher within the field of ASD, as well as working as a visiting lecturer at The University of Hertfordshire delivering teaching on both the undergraduate and masters psychology degrees. Laura is trained to deliver both the ADI-R and ADOS-2 to research reliability status along with training and experience in delivering RAID and PEERS approaches. Laura is also the founder of The Noah's Room Charity and supports and campaigns actively for the ENHT Peadiatric Safe Space Appeal. Laura's publications include:
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Claire - Centre Manager
Claire has been a qualified person centred counsellor for over 15 years, 5 years ago she also
completed a play therapy diploma. Claire has spent time managing a children's home supporting
children with complex needs and end of life care. Claire has worked at the butterfly room for three
years and has a great rapport with both adults and children alike. Claire is also the safeguarding
lead for The Butterfly Room and supports staff including running a peer supervision group for the
whole team. As a counsellor Claire is lead by the child and supports the child to tell their story
through play and exploration. Claire is registered with the BACP and completed her proficiency with
them too. She has considerable experience, working in care and education her whole adult career
and has spent the last ten years working in mainstream and special schools across the county. Claire
specialises in supporting children with additional needs, she has worked with children with a wide
variety of needs including, loss, bereavement, ASD, ADHD, different learning and communication
needs, self esteem, depression, eating disorders, psychosis, trauma, attachment and anxiety. Claire is
also a trustee of a charity called HOLD supporting disabled adults.
completed a play therapy diploma. Claire has spent time managing a children's home supporting
children with complex needs and end of life care. Claire has worked at the butterfly room for three
years and has a great rapport with both adults and children alike. Claire is also the safeguarding
lead for The Butterfly Room and supports staff including running a peer supervision group for the
whole team. As a counsellor Claire is lead by the child and supports the child to tell their story
through play and exploration. Claire is registered with the BACP and completed her proficiency with
them too. She has considerable experience, working in care and education her whole adult career
and has spent the last ten years working in mainstream and special schools across the county. Claire
specialises in supporting children with additional needs, she has worked with children with a wide
variety of needs including, loss, bereavement, ASD, ADHD, different learning and communication
needs, self esteem, depression, eating disorders, psychosis, trauma, attachment and anxiety. Claire is
also a trustee of a charity called HOLD supporting disabled adults.
Rachel - Placement Manager
Rachel is a qualified counsellor and member of the BACP and NCS who has worked at The Butterfly
Room for almost three years. As Placement Manager Rachel hopes to extend our growing and
diverse team. Whether you are requiring a placement opportunity or looking to gain experience
within a counselling setting we can offer a supportive programme empowering you to reach your
goals. Volunteering is a very rewarding experience which Rachel believes is an integral part of
personal development and growth. As placement manager Rachel will be your mentor throughout
your volunteering role, you will meet regularly in order to ensure good practice and shared practice
is always welcome. As a team we are lucky to have a Supervisor who can offer monthly group
supervision, and offer a diverse range of expertise between us all. If a volunteering role is something
you are looking for please get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
The Behavioural Therapy Team
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Naomi Naomi is a qualified counsellor and is a member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy and the National Counselling Society. For twenty years she has worked extensively with children, adolescents and their families in a variety of settings including specialist schools for children with Epilepsy and Autism, as a Play Worker at Great Ormond Street Hospital and currently as a Senior Contact Supervisor at the Hertfordshire Contact Service. She also volunteers at the Garden House Hospice as a Bereavement Counsellor. |
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Rachel Rachel is a qualified counsellor and member of the BACP and NCS, she has worked within education settings supporting children and adolescents experiencing social, emotional and mental health difficulties including anxiety, self-harm, low self-esteem, bereavement, ASD, ADHD and attachment. Rachel has implemented interventions within school settings focusing on the growth of emotional development and resilience, promoting positive future outcomes for all. Rachel also runs a private practice supporting adults with a range of difficulties. Rachel also spent a year volunteering at Garden House Hospice as a bereavement counsellor. Jean Jean qualified as a Person Centred Counsellor in 2018; and is a registered member of the BACP. Jean has 14 years’ experience of working within a secondary school setting, where she has provided therapeutic support for pupils and student who are struggling to express their emotions, and at times feel as if they are not being heard. Jean has experience in working with self-harm, emotional and social anxiety, behavioural problems and bereavement. |
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Nichola
Nichola is a BACP registered integrative counsellor. The integrated models of therapy consist of humanistic, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural therapy. The nature of the therapeutic relationship and role of the therapist is person centred in approach. Nichola trained with the Place2be and has experience in art therapy and small figure play in primary school settings. In addition, Nichola has worked therapeutically with young people for over ten years, as a therapeutic foster carer and also in a college setting, working with students who present a variety of needs, including, ASD, disabilities, challenging behaviours and students who are unable to cope with mainstream school. Nichola aims to offer children and young people a therapeutic relationship and safe space to explore their difficult and painful feelings. To enable the client to process their thoughts and feelings and be able to grow and develop in healthy ways, to feel empowered and seek rewards from within themselves. |
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Melissa Melissa is a qualified person centred counsellor and member of the BACP. Melissa has worked in secondary schools and local counselling charities supporting young people with social and emotional difficulties, such as low self-esteem, anxiety and bullying. Melissa has substantial experience of working with young people with a wide range of different needs such as ASD, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties and low confidence. Kerry Kerry is a qualified child and adolescent counsellor and full member of the BACP. She is an integrative practitioner, tailoring her work to meet the individual needs of the child/young person, using a mixture of talking, play and art-based therapies. Kerry is passionate about the therapeutic relationship and creating a safe space in order for a child/young person to explore their inner world and true self. She promotes individuality and is particularly interested in attachment and developmental trauma along with neuroscience and intergenerational complexities. Kerry has 14 years’ experience in working with children/young people of various ages with social, emotional difficulties including ASD, ADHD and Attachment Disorders. Kerry has worked with children/ young people who have experienced trauma, sexual abuse, neglect, anxiety, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. She also values the importance in working with families. |
The Art Therapy Team
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Kat Kat Kennedy is a registered mental health Nurse registered with the nursing midwifery council. Kat is passionate about working with children and young people families towards their goals, whether that is assessing their mental health and screening for neurodevelopmental disorders, accessing and navigating support systems or reducing symptoms of anxiety, sensory or emotional regulation and self harm behaviours using CBT and DBT skills. Kat advocates for her patients ensuring their voices are heard and helping them create an effective plan that really makes a difference. Kat has been working in mental health for 20 years and for 11 of those as a qualified mental health nurse. Kat is a mum to two boys myself and attempts to do random things to keep herself physically and mentally healthy in my spare time like jogging ;) |
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Jasmine Jasmine is a qualified HCPC Registered art therapist and practicing artist. She has considerable experience working with children exhibiting challenging behaviour, children with autism, adolescents and vulnerable adults with mental health difficulties. She provides support for the development of a better sense of the self and potential through creativity and healthy attachment. |
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Katherine
Katherine is a HCPC registered Art Psychotherapist who uses a client-centred approach to help those in need. Katherine has considerable experience working with children in primary schools and CAMHS providing therapeutic support for children with ASD, ADHD, mental health and learning difficulties as well as providing support for looked-after children and those experiencing family bereavement. Katherine provides individual and group sessions as well as dyadic work to support relationships within the family dynamic. She believes that art can encourage growth and emotional resilience and allows people to work through trauma in a safe, contained environment. |
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Alison Alison is a HCPC Registered Art Therapist. Her experience includes working with children and adolescents with special educational needs. She has a warm, explorative and reflective style that draws from a range of psychotherapeutic approaches. In addition Alison has worked closely with young adults with learning disabilities within a care setting for over 14 years. Alison aims to provide client-centred space where the young person is free to express themselves and explore any issues they wish to bring. Alison is also a member of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) and registered with the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC). |
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Rochelle Rochelle is a qualified Art Psychotherapist who is registered with the Health Care Professions Council, she is also a practising artist. Rochelle takes a client-centred approach when working therapeutically and believes that art has the ability to allow people to explore thoughts and feelings that may usually be unreachable. In addition to having experience working in a mainstream setting, Rochelle also has experience working with both children and adults with ASD and a range of other learning disabilities/difficulties, complex needs and challenging behaviour. |
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Hanna
Hanna is an Art Psychotherapist trained both in Germany (Dipl.) and in the UK (MA). She is a member of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Her aim is to enable every client to access their own potential through creativity and to encourage personal growth through providing a safe, non-threatening and non-judgemental space. Her theoretical orientation is based on psychodynamic and object relations theory, however, also complemented by her previous humanistic, person-centred and cognitive/behavioural approaches, giving her a rich ‘tool box’ to allow her to meet each client’s particular needs best. It is her belief that creativity in the therapeutic space can be a way to explore difference, to negotiate interpersonal boundaries and to experiment with new ways of being. |
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Shoshana
Shoshana is an HCPC registered Art Psychotherapist with a background in Psychodynamics, photography and is a practicing Artist. Shoshana has extensive experience working with groups of adults with mental health disorders, children and adolescents with autism and learning disabilities. Furthermore, as a strong member of community organisations, including Meshuganas, Art2heart and Respace projects, Shoshana has led various wellbeing activities, managing events and performers, including several self-led workshops. Shoshana has a passion for using her creative initiative to cater for individual client needs. Her person-centred approach is based on Mentalisation, with her initial session regularly being centred around the concept of Intensive Interaction. Shoshana’s flexible technique allows her to act in a Directive or Non-directive manner, whilst always utilising her ever-growing list of techniques as she values her personal Art Practice as a source to manifest new ideas. |
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Ayesha
Ayesha is a qualified HCPC registered Art Psychotherapist and Member of BAAT (British Association of Art Therapy). Ayesha is psycho-dynamically trained and currently specializes in Trauma informed care working with separated asylum seeker children providing psychoeducational workshops as well as Art therapy. She has also worked in multiple settings, one being the NHS providing Art therapy for children and adolescents that have experienced difficulties such as anxiety, depression, selective mutism, attachment, trauma and suicidal thoughts . Ayesha is passionate about working person centred in her approach, facilitating a safe environment for self -expression and creativity using art as a form of communication, in addition tailoring the sessions to the clients individual needs therapeutically. |
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Alley
Alley is an HCPC registered and fully qualified Art Psychotherapist and is part of BAAT (British Association of Art Therapists). She is a practising artist and loves to collaborate with other artists and collectives. She works in a person-centred and psychodynamically informed way, providing a safe and therapeutic relationship to help children express themselves creatively through artmaking and play. Alley has vast experience working with children who have additional needs in schools, supporting children and families who have been bereaved, and working with children who have experienced trauma. Alley has also experience offering Art Therapy in hospice work supporting children with anxiety and depression, and creative expression groups for children with ASD and ADHD. Alley works systemically, mindfully considering the family and schooling aspects of working with children. She is passionate about offering a non-judgemental and compassionate service, supporting children to become more confident in exploring new possibilities through Art Therapy. |
The Play Therapy Team
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Eve
Eve is a qualified Art Psychotherapist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. She is passionate about improving mental health and the quality of life for others through building therapeutic alliance. Eve’s clinical approach is both psychodynamic and person-centred, and she encourages creativity and playfulness within sessions as this supports minds to access inner worlds, and can assist individuals to reframe difficult thoughts and feelings. Eve has experience working with adults and children, including looked after children and has supported individuals with Autism, learning disabilities and mental health issues. In addition, Eve has worked largely within ethnically diverse communities where she has and continues to promote equal opportunities and inclusion to those requiring therapy services. Eve specialises in bereavement and loss and presently works creatively with young children and families to explore and process the many emotions and experiences connected to losing a loved one as an art therapist. Natasha Natasha is a fully qualified HCPC registered Art Therapist with extensive experience of supporting children and young people with a range of mental health concerns and comorbid Neurodevelopmental disorders. Natasha shares; As an Art Therapist my main focus is to support clients through their journey of change. Such journeys often start in a place where an individual may feel alone, lack trust, feel frightened and / or hurt. My aim is to enable clients to build a stronger sense of self and resilience to any challenges which they may be experiencing in their lives. Amy Amy is a qualified Art Therapist who is registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a member of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT). Amy adapts her practice to meet the needs of each individual and works following a psychodynamic, non-directive client centred approach to art therapy. Amy has experience of supporting young people with learning difficulties, Autism and/or ADHD within Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) and Special Educational Needs (SEN) school environments through engagement with the art materials and play. She’s worked predominantly with vulnerable young people who have experienced difficulties with their mental health such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, OCD and suicidal ideations. Amy believes that art is a powerful form of non-verbal communication which allows individuals to express their emotions and explore their self identity whilst being supported in a safe and contained environment. Adriana Adriana is a fully qualified and HCPC registered Art Therapist who is Psychodynamically-trained and also a practicing artist who has a particularly interest in the sensory and therapeutic qualities of working with clay/ceramics. She has experience of working in a range of settings including education, palliative care as well as grief and bereavement support, supporting children, young people and adults. Adriana gained extensive experience of supporting children with ASD and ADHD through her previous role as a SEN Teaching Assistant. Her SEN TA experience inspired her to combine her passion for the visual arts and the mental wellbeing of others. Phoebe Phoebe is a HCPC registered, psychodynamically-trained Art Psychotherapist & ASD Consultant with a special interest in and extensive experience of Autism Spectrum Disorder and related conditions. Phoebe is a member of the British Association of Art Therapists. She is also a trained and practicing artist, using collage and hand embroidery. Phoebe has extensive experience working with children and young people of all ages, from a vast range of backgrounds. Her passion and drive lies in helping people that are struggling in any way to thrive and grow with resilience, assertiveness and confidence. Phoebe is constantly striving personally and professionally to increase awareness of Autism and create a world where there is no longer stigma surrounding it. There is huge power and healing to be found in creativity and Phoebe is committed to helping others discover this. Tansy Tansy is a qualified Art Psychotherapist registered with the Health Care Professions Council. Tansy works with a client-centred approach and believes art allows people to explore difficult feelings and emotions. Tansy has extensive experience in supporting children and adolescents dealing with bereavement. Furthermore, Tansy has experience in working in both mainstream and special education settings supporting children and young people with a range of learning disabilities, complex needs, and challenging behaviour. |
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Beth Beth is a certified Play Therapist and a registered member of Play Therapy UK. She has 19 years’ experience of working with children with learning disabilities, ADHD and Autism. Beth is passionate about helping children fulfill their potential, whatever their difficulties and uses a range of techniques including art, sand, clay, role play, puppets and storytelling, to help children process their feelings and experiences. Beth has worked with children who have experienced abuse, trauma, anxiety, attachment issues, behavioural difficulties, domestic abuse and adoption and fostering, in special needs and mainstream schools. Through play and the therapeutic relationship, Beth creates a safe space for each child to explore and heal. Andri Andri is a Certified Practitioner in Therapeutic Play Skills and a member of Play Therapy UK. For the past 14 years, Andri has used play in all its glory, in order to build relationships with very vulnerable children and young adults. Andri has worked with children and young adults in a number of different environments and settings, including; SEN schools, mainstream schools and a pupil referral unit. Andri has worked with children and young adults who have experienced domestic violence, trauma, social and emotional anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, behavioural problems, bereavement, and attachment difficulties. She is experienced in working with children and young adults with disabilities, victims of abuse, and looked after children. |
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Drama Therapy Team
Volunteer Counsellors 
The Admin Team |
Guillermo Guillermo is a qualified HCPC registered Drama and Movement Psychotherapist and Member of BADth (British Association of Dramatherapy). He also has a background in clinical psychology in Perú. Guillermo's fields of interest are related to the arts, gender theory and work with children. In his practice, he works using different techniques from play and drama, as well as movement, dance and creative storytelling. Guillermo has worked in different settings with children with ASC, LGBTQI+ young persons, children with PMLD, children with anxiety, depression trauma and suicidal ideation. More recently, Guillermo works with unaccompanied children seeking asylum and refugees, helping them overcoming difficult experiences and traumas, as well as supporting them in the process of adaptation to the new place where they are. Karen Karen has a diverse and extensive history of working with young people, working in educational settings for the last 10 years. Karen has experience of working with complex situations including, challenging behaviour, anxiety & self harm and suicide ideation, Karen is patient, understanding and has a strong desire to help young people reach their full potential. Karen has worked with neurodiverse needs, social & emotional difficulties and has also supported students who have been excluded from mainstream settings. Karen is now in her final placement year and is trained integratively giving her broad knowledge & skill sets required to work with The Butterfly Room. |
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Emma Emma has over 18 years administrative and secretarial experience, including working as a PA at a director level. Emma spent over 10 years working within the NHS and other health care settings, and has also worked alongside charities supporting children and young people with mental health needs. Emma is our first point of contact and handles the admin side of things including enquiries, invoicing and bookings. |