My name is Jessica Oliyide and I am a certified play therapist based in Buntingford, Hertfordshire.
I am passionate about helping all children to be the best they can by creating an accepting, non-judgemental environment for them to safely explore their feelings and experiences. I work closely with families and schools to provide a collaborative therapeutic intervention.
I started my career as a primary school teacher in a large multicultural school in London where I worked for 8 years and specialised in supporting children with special educational needs and those with English as a second language. I found that I had a natural affinity with children, and they taught me to see the world in a different way. I am passionate about inclusion and believe all children should have access to the tools they require to achieve their full potential.
After taking a career break to raise our children I worked for a charity supporting vulnerable families and training volunteers. I facilitated parenting, school readiness and wellbeing groups for families and I carried out home visits to provide support with child development, health and welfare. This role provided a deeper insight into to the challenges many families face, and I realised I wanted to do more.
I trained as a foster carer during the pandemic, and we welcomed our foster child to our family in 2021. Fostering has enabled me to see the difference that compassion and nurture can make. I have gained a deep understanding of childhood trauma and the impact it has on the nervous system. Seeing the resilience and remarkable progress our foster child has made inspired me to train as a play therapist and I studied a post graduate diploma at the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC).
During the last three-years I have worked with a range of children at a local school supporting with anxiety, loss, family illness, parental separation, separation anxiety, communication difficulties and behavioural difficulties. I have a wealth of experience and knowledge of working with children with Autism, ADHD and PDA and I have also supported children with developmental delays and FASD. I use an integrative holistic approach which allows me to adapt my therapeutic practice to meet each child’s individual needs.
I now work from my garden studio in Buntingford where I offer a calm, nurturing environment where children can access the full therapeutic toolkit.
Qualifications:
- BA Hons Primary Education
- Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills
- Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy
- Beacon House Trauma Informed Practitioner
Safeguarding and Ethical Standards:
- Play Therapy UK (PTUK) Accredited and adherence to their ethical framework.
- Professional Standards Authority (PSA) Accredited.
- Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
- Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance
- ICO Data Controller
- Supervised by a PTUK registered clinical supervisor
- Attendance of regular CPD training to continue to develop my therapeutic knowledge and skills.
- Adherence to clinical governance (quality control) procedures i.e. pre and post therapy assessments, regular updates, feedback from referrers, parents and teachers.
- Safeguarding, data protection and child protection policies available upon request.
‘Play is a child’s natural medium for self-expression’
– Virginia Axline.
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