About Elaine Hutchinson & Orca
About Elaine
Elaine spent a long time working as a teacher before deciding to become a play therapist. She has worked in primary and secondary schools, in alternative provision and pupil referral units and with young offenders as well as in special education. She specialised in working with children who have physical or behavioural additional needs and has worked extensively with children who have emotional or mental health difficulties.
More recently she has worked with looked after children, provided medical education and worked with CAMHS.
Any child aged 4-13 is welcome in her playroom but she also does creative art therapy and sand tray therapy with young people and adults.
Elaine has completed a post graduate diploma in play and creative art therapy through Play Therapy UK and Leeds Beckett University. She is registered and accredited through PTUK and the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Elaine is also an Emotional Logic Coach, working with children, young people and adults and is a registered Thrive Practitioner. She offers CPD training for teachers and school staff, supervision and support for support staff in schools and offers parents support in play skills to allow them to engage more in playing with their child.
Elaine is fully insured and has a current DBS certificate.
About Orca
Orca is Elaine’s therapy dog. She is a collie-poodle cross and is extremely friendly.
She has been trained at Little Orchard Dog Training, and has several Kennel Club certificates, including her Silver Good Citizen Award.
She is a registered PAT dog, through Pets as Therapy. She loves a tummy tickle and her favourite food is cheese.
Orca can come and be part of the playroom, or spend the session in her crate, depending on what a child wants for any given session.
If your child has an aversion to dogs, Orca can be kept safely away, but if your child is allergic to dogs, it is strongly suggested that they see another therapist, as Orca will have been in the play room and your child needs to be kept safe.
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