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Meet the team

You may come across different members of our team during your journey with us. Here you can find out more about who we are.

Our Team

We are a team of expert practitioners with diverse professional backgrounds, including social care, creative therapies, and psychology. Our collective experience and specialist training enable us to provide high-quality, evidence-informed support to children and young people presenting with complex needs.

HSB Specialist Service Team

Clinical Support

Brain Thoughts Butterflies

Dr Ian Burke

Clinical & Forensic Psychologist
Doctorate in Forensic Clinical Psychology

Dr Burke specialises in the assessment, treatment, and support of young people who present with sexual behaviour problems. He is trained in a range of therapeutic approaches including EMDR, DDP, Play Therapy, and Sensory Attachment Intervention (SAI).

Dr Burke is a nationally recognised expert in the field of harmful and problematic sexual behaviour in children and young people and contributes to several policy development groups on this subject area including the Children’s Commissioner’s Office expert steering group on pornography.

Leadership Support

Sam M

Samantha McAuley-Hall

Practice Manager, AFCTS
Qualified and Registered Social Worker

Hi, I'm Sam. I am a Therapeutic Practice Manager for AFCTS and I lead the HSB Specialist Service. I bring 14 years of post-qualification experience across child protection, duty, children in care, and therapeutic services. I have held managerial roles for over 6 years and have a strong professional interest in HSB, Child Sexual Exploitation, and Sexual Abuse.

Business Support

Jack

Jack Lau

Administrative Officer, AFCTS

Hi, I'm Jack. I am from Hong Kong and I have over seven years of experience working in administrative roles. I moved to the UK in 2022, and this is my first role supporting work with children. I currently provide administrative and website development support to the HSB Specialist Service within Action for Children Therapeutic Services.

Therapeutic Services Team

Leadership Team

Kathryn

Kathryn Barker

Practice Manager, AFCTS
Qualified and Registered Social Worker

Hi, I’m Kathryn and I’m a Therapeutic Practice Manager at Action for Children Therapeutic Services. My background is as a social worker, specialising in therapeutically working with children and adults across a wide range of contexts.

Casey

Casey Bingham

Practice Manager & Lead Therapeutic Practitioner, AFCTS
Qualified and Registered Social Worker

Hi, I'm Casey. My background is as a Social Worker, qualifying in 2012. I worked in different children and families statutory social work teams for 6 years before moving into therapeutic social work in 2018. I love the variety of my role, from getting to know children and families really well over a long period of time to meeting people briefly whilst leading training or offering one-off consultations and trying to have a big impact in a short space of time.

Clinical Team

Helena

Helena Houghton

Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead, AFCTS
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, HCPC Registered

Hi, I’m Helena. I’m a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and the Clinical Lead for Action for Children Therapeutic Services. Before moving to this role, I worked in the NHS for 24 years, leading a specialist trauma and attachment service for children in care.

Jenny

Jenny Taylor

Principal Clinical Psychologist, AFCTS
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

Hi, I'm Jenny. I am a clinical psychologist and have been in my current role for over ten years. I feel extremely fortunate to work with so many wonderful young people and the dedicated people around them. Prior to my current role, I worked in a CAMHS team in Sheffield. I have additional training in EMDR, DDP and Theraplay.

Tracey

Tracey Grant Lee

Clinical Psychologist, AFCTS
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

Hi, my name is Tracey and I am a clinical psychologist registered with the HCPC. I have over 15 years’ post-qualification experience, supporting the mental health of children and families with diverse needs including neurodivergence, learning disability and developmental trauma through providing therapy, parent/ carer support and delivering training, consultation and supervision to other professionals.

A headshot of a smiling young woman with a nose piercing

Abi Hutchinson

Psychotherapist & Clinical Supervisor, AFCTS
Psychotherapist, MBACP Registered

Hi, I'm Abi, I am a humanistic psychotherapist, with an interest in intergenerational trauma and post traumatic growth. I have experience working with addiction, trauma, mental health, offending and physical health complaints.

Practitioners Team

Meet our wonderful team of therapeutic practitioners, who collectively, have a wide range of experience working with children, young people, and families across various occupations and modalities.

Whilst we may have different backgrounds and enjoy different things in our spare time, we are all super passionate about supporting and working with children and young people!

Beth

Beth Stevenson

Lead Therapeutic Practitioner, AFCTS
Play Therapist & Filial Play Coach, PTUK Registered

Hi, I'm Beth! I've worked at AFCTS for over 3 years, using my knowledge and practice as an integrative Play Therapist.

After working as a Primary School Teacher, I realised my passion was supporting children to explore and understand their thoughts, and make sense of their emotions. Since training as a Play Therapist, I have further recognised the importance of supporting families and the significant adults in children's lives.

Davinia

Davinia Bailach-Cabrerizo

Lead Therapeutic Practitioner, AFCTS
Music Therapist, HCPC Registered

Hi, I’m Davinia and I’m a creative arts therapist. My experience spans working with trauma and developmental trauma as well as neurodiversity, supporting ASD diagnosis and assessments. I have also worked in an SEN school in the past.

Georgie

Georgina Rolfe

Lead Therapeutic Practitioner, AFCTS
Environmental Arts Therapist & Drama Therapist, HCPC Registered

Hi, I'm Georgina, I’ve worked as a creative arts therapist in local charities for over 10 years, specialising in developmental trauma, neurodiversity and supporting carers.

I’m an integrative therapist, utilising all art forms to ensure a child centred approach and am a registered Drama Therapist, with additional training in DDP and Theraplay.

Leanne

Leanne Clayton

Lead Therapeutic Practitioner, AFCTS
Pluralistic Psychotherapist, HCPC Registered

Hi, I'm Leanne and I am a developing pluralistic psychotherapist and qualified hypnotherapist.

The basis of how I like to work is more relational, with the therapeutic relationship the main priority with those that I get to be with. I have worked with young people in different settings for the best of 10+ years.

Maria

Maria Kelk

Lead Therapeutic Practitioner, AFCTS
Qualified & Registered Social Worker

Hi, my name is Maria, I am a Therapeutic Social Worker. Previously I worked for 10+ years as a social worker in children & family’s teams. Later I completed a Diploma in Systemic Theory and Practice & worked for 10+ years at the Sexual Abuse Unit which became The Keep an attachment & trauma service for children in care.

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Natalie Shaw

Lead Therapeutic Practitioner, AFCTS
Qualified & Registered Social Worker

Hi, I'm Natalie, I have 17 years of experience in Social Care and I am a qualified social worker, and I am trained in DDP Level 2, and Level 1 Theraplay.

I previously worker in family intervention, supporting families with social worker involvement. Before moving on to reunifying young people with their families or transitioning them from residential to foster care for the past 7 years.

Rachael

Rachael Mcilwrick

Lead Therapeutic Practitioner, AFCTS
Play Therapist & Systemic Family Practitioner, BAPT Registered

Hi, I'm Rachael! I've loved being a part of this supportive and skilled team.

I am a registered Non-directive Play Therapist and Systemic Family Practitioner, with a degree in Creative/Expressive Arts Therapy. I’ve also trained in Filial Therapy, DDP, Theraplay, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and trauma approaches.

Sam S

Sam Setchell-Hynes

Lead Therapeutic Practitioner, AFCTS
Integrative Psychotherapist, MCACP Registered

Hi, I’m Sam, an Integrative Psychotherapist trained in integrating CBT, Attachment Theory, and a Person-Centred approach to psychological intervention. I also have further training in DDP, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Gestalt, and creative interventions. Beyond clinical modalities, I am passionate about empowering young people to build on their sense of self and worth as they navigate the world and their relationships, it’s a privilege to be part of their journey.

Business Support Team

Tracey A

Tracey Ashton

Senior Business Support Officer, AFCTS

Hi, I am Tracey. I have done many jobs over my career but all involving admin, customer service and finance. For the past 10 years I have worked with homeless and vulnerable adults and prior to that I spent 7 years working in schools. Before joining AfC, my role was as Operations Manager for a community based charity in Aldershot. I am excited to learn about how the most vulnerable children in our society are supported.

Jo

Jo Bradley

Senior Business Support Officer, AFCTS

Hi, I'm Jo and I have worked for AfC for over 10 years now and started off as an admin worker for a service with children with disabilities.

Over the years I have gained experience in several services ranging from advocacy, children’s rights, prisons, children’s centres and mental health.

Colette2

Colette Wells

Evaluation Officer, AFCTS

Hi, I'm Colette. My current role as Evaluation Officer, involves predominantly working in a data role, collating monthly/quarterly referral/appointment data and producing reports. I have worked in an office environment since leaving school, I started out in manufacturing, before joining the NHS in 2014 and transferring to AfC in 2020.

Sarah

Sarah Brochocki

Business Support Officer, AFCTS

Hi, I'm Sarah and I'm a Business Support Officer at AFCTS, where I have worked for 4 years. I process the referrals and consultation requests for AFCTS.

I have worked in an administrative role for over 30 years, with the past 8 years working in a HR environment.  My qualifications include, Business Administration Level 2 and Level 3, plus the CIPD Level 3 certificate in HR Practice.

Sophie

Sophie Chadwick

Business Support Officer, AFCTS

Hi, I'm Sophie. At AFCTS I support with the organisation of our external training, Attachment Group, Space 4 U, as well as doing other daily admin tasks.

I come from an Early Years background working for over 9 years with a variety of different ages groups within day nurseries. Over those years I completed my Level 2 and 3 qualifications in Young People’s Workforce, alongside these qualifications I completed Level 2 in Business and Administration.