Faculty

The staff team, led by Monika Jephcott, is drawn from an International pool of professional psychological and play therapies educators which has been assembled over many years.

Teaching staff are not only well-qualified and undertake research activities, but are also passionate and inspiring so that you become the future professionals who will change children’s lives.

All members of the APAC faculty that teach the Post Graduate Certificate and Diploma, and MA tutors for UK, are Associate Tutors or Chichester University, UK.

In Ireland the faculty works as part of the accrediting university University College of Cork.

All International tutors are accredited within their own countries and PTI.

All teaching staff are members of PTI/PTUK and are on the PTUK Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapies website.

Senior Leadership Team

Chief Executive, APAC

Monika Jephcott

- Founding member of Play Therapy UK (PTUK)
- 2001 PTI Award from contributions to the field of Play Therapy, CE and founder of APAC
- Programme Director
- Clinical Director for APAC
- Chief Executive APAC, PTUK
- Elected President PTI
- Consultant for Clinical Supervision and Play Therapy practice

MA Course Director

Sophia O'Neill, MA

Specialist Areas of Expertise
•Post-Graduate Masters in Practice-Based Play Therapy
•Accredited Play Therapist
•Certified Clinical Supervisor
•BSc Psychology
•LBU associate lecturer
•PTUK Research Writer

Specialism/Area of Expertise:
•Baby Bonding & Toddler Bonding trainer and practitioner
•Expertise working with families.

Learning & Development Manager

Rochelle Rajan, MA

Specialist Areas of Expertise:
•Learning & Development Manager
•Course director for UK / International
•Accredited Play Therapist
•Senior Certified Clinical Supervisor
•MA in Practice based Play Therapy
•Diploma in integrative Counselling (MBACP)
•Mental health First Aider

Specialism/Area of Expertise:
•15+ years of experience in working with SEN children
•Working with Attachment and Trauma
•Leading and Management of Community based Mental health and Wellbeing projects
•Experience in Leading children’s Mental Health services in school
•Setting up school-based Play Therapy provisions
•Equality and Diversity in Play Therapy setting
•MA work-based learning and research
•Mindfulness training

Learning and Development

Course Development/ Quality Assurance Lead

Amber Cawley

Specialist Areas of Expertise
•Course Development
•Course Director UK
•Accredited Play Therapist
•Certificate Clinical Supervisor
•BA (Hons) Primary Education

Specialism/Area of Expertise:
•Teacher of children with moderate to severe learning difficulties in a range of mainstream and specialist settings
•Specialist experience of working therapeutically with children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties and children and young people permanently excluded from mainstream education
•Experience of working therapeutically with fostered children and children at risk of criminalisation

Student Disability Officer/ Interviewer

Natasha Conn. MA

Specialist Areas of Expertise:
•Course Director UK
•Student Disability Officer/ Interviewer
•Accredited Play Therapist
•Certified Clinical Supervisor
•Certified Filial Play Coach

Specialism/Area of Expertise:
•MA Practice-based Play Therapy

Placements Lead

Sabrina Persiano

Specialist Areas of Expertise
Placements Lead
•Course Director UK and overseas
•Bachelor of Psychology and Communications
•Certified Play Therapist
•Certified Filial Play Coach
•Certified Clinical Supervisor
•Baby Bonding and Toddler Bonding Practitioner
•Trainee Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapist (DDP)

Specialism/Area of Expertise:
•MA in Practice based Play Therapy
•Over 20 years’ experience working with Autism and challenging behaviours
•Running an independent therapy practice in Malta and UK in the last 15 years
•Specialising in Attachment and Parenting
•Sandplay
•Member of the DDP Research Committee

Course Directors For The Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy

Course Director, UK & Ireland

Janette Casey

Specialist Areas of Expertise:
•Chief Executive of Play Therapy Ireland
•Course Director Irleand
•Certified Play Therapist
•Certified Clinical Supervisor
•Trainee Filial Play Coach
•MSc Human Resource and Industrial Relations

Specialism/Area of Expertise:
•Child, Adolescent, Adult Psychotherapist & Counsellor (MIACP)
•Positive Behaviour Therapist
•Group Therapy Facilitator
•Laughter Yoga Leader Trainer