ABOUT
Meet the Team
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team”. Phil Jackson
Michelle Schofield
Director
Michelle Schofield is the Director of Children’s Therapy Services. The team are qualified to work with a range of approaches, ensuring they deliver a tailored and effective service for the children and families they support.
Children's Therapy Services was established in 2015. Michelle is an experienced Child and Family Therapist with many years experience working in private practice. She also has extensive experience working in CAMHS, non-profit agencies and charities, and private fostering agencies.
Michelle emigrated to Australia in 2025, living in the Gold Coast, Queensland.
Michelle now works Internationally and manages Children's Therapy Services from Australia. Michelle is still fully involved in the running and development of Children's Therapy Services and is very operational for example, she still personally receives the referrals, triages and allocates to the appropriate Therapist.
Michelle can be contacted via email should you wish to contact her directly: childrenstherapyservices@protonmail.com
See further details about Michelle Schofield, www.childrenstherapyservicesqueensland.com.au
Claire Howard
Associate Therapist
Claire is a certified and registered Play Therapist and Clay Therapist. As well as a Child Attachment Play, and Baby Toddler Bonder Practitioner.
Claire has been with Children’s Therapy Services since 2022 as an Associate therapist. She has over 18 years’ experience working with children, young people and their families impacted by trauma. Claire has experience working in various settings.
Claire enjoys working creatively with children and their families and can offer different modalities. She is flexible in her ways of working to meet the child’s emotional and developmental needs.
Additional training includes:
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The BUSS Model Level 1
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SMART Foundations
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Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level 1
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Certificate in Creative Counseling for Young People
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Equine Interventions
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Therapeutic Life Story Work
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Makaton Level 1 and 2
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Improving Sensory Processing in Traumatised Children-Building Underdeveloped Systems
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Certified Sand Tray Play in Education Practitioner
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Safeguarding Children and Young People
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First Aid at Work
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Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
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LEAPlets group training (Based on the BUSSmodel)
Po Stoneman
Associate
Po is a Foundation level Theraplay Practitioner.
Po has been with Children’s Therapy Services since January 2024 but she has over 10 years of experience working with children and their families who have been impacted by trauma in different roles including adoption support and within the care setting.
Previously, Po worked in a Therapeutic Residential Care setting and also had experience working as a Therapeutic Practitioner within another service. Po has enjoyed supporting families in Theraplay inspired group work and will be developing herself with BUSS model level 1 so she can help run more support groups.
Po is playful and lively. She loves working with families to find what can work for them and seeing them grow together.
Additional training includes:
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Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level 1
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Psychology Bsc. hons 2.1
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Theraplay & Marschak Interaction Method Assessments and Group Theraplay
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Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity & Data protection training updated regularly
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Supporting Children and Adolescents with anxiety with Dr Karen Treisman
Hayley Rutt
Associate
Hayley is a Certified and Registered Play Therapist.
Hayley joined Children’s Therapy Services in 2023 as an Associate Therapist. She has over 12 years’ experience working with children, young people and their families. Hayley has experience working in various settings, including Early Years Foundation Stage Nursery, Primary School, Paediatric High Dependency Unit, Children’s Hospice and in the Community.
Hayley has most recently been working within the NHS as an Assistant Psychologist, supporting families with ARFID- Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
Hayley enjoys working creatively with children and their families and can offer different modalities. She is flexible in her ways of working to meet the child’s emotional and developmental needs.
Additional training includes:
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Parent-Child Attachment Play
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AutPlay Therapy
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Rhythmic Movement
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Safeguarding Children and Young People
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TraumaPlay Advanced
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LEAPlets group training (Based on the BUSSmodel)
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First Aid Training
Natalie Bayarri
Associate
Natalie is a PTUK registered Play Therapist with a background in education. She has been working with children and young people since 2006 in both Primary and Secondary schools. She is passionate about supporting young people’s health and wellbeing through play and creative arts.
Natalie’s qualifications include:
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BA Drama and Theatre Arts – The University of Birmingham
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PGCE Drama (QTS) – The Central School of Speech and Drama
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Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play – Leeds Beckett University
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Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy– Leeds Beckett University
Natalie enjoys building positive relationships with all the children and families she works with and is calm, friendly and non-judgmental. She works with an integrative holistic approach, using a range of play tools to support the whole child. These include storytelling, drama, puppets, creative visualisation, art, movement, music and sandplay. Natalie is committed to learning and continuing to develop professionally.
Other relevant additional training includes:
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Level 3 Paediatric First Aid
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Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism
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Beacon House Developmental Trauma for Professionals
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Trauma Informed Schools
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Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health
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Breastfeeding peer support
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Safeguarding
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Filial Therapy
Charlie Molloy
Associate
Occupational Therapist
Charlie qualified as an OT in 2013 and specialises in neurodevelopmental differences. She uses a creative strength-based approach, which prioritises fun and engagement. As a neurodivergent therapist, with a neurodivergent child, she has a unique insight into the strengths and challenges of the children and families she works with.
Charlie can utilise a host of standardised assessments and evidence-based approaches to offer insights into a child’s unique experience and advocate for what they need.
Charlie’s practice is deeply rooted in the belief that every child has the right to play, and she is committed to adapting environments to make this possible. She tailors her sessions to meet each child’s unique needs, using activity analysis to increase their meaningful engagement in day-to-day activities. She loves to collaborate with parents/ carers, as the experts on their children, and will work with significant professionals to maximise children’s participation and well-being.
Qualifications and Training
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MSc Occupational Therapy
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BSc Politics and Social Policy
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Ayres Sensory Integration (CLASI - modules 1-6 theory completed
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(currently working towards practical assignments)
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Assessment of Motor and Process Skills
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Task and Activity Analysis
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The Neurobiology of Attachment (NICABM)
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EASI Assessment (Evaluation of Ayres Sensory Integration)
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Sensory Processing Measure 2nd Edition
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Sensory Profile 2nd Edition
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Beery-Buktencia Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration 6th Edition
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First Aid, Safeguarding, Information Governance/ Data Protection and Prevent training updated regularly
Ian Alexander
Associate
Art Therapist
When words are not enough, art and creativity can provide another way to healing.
Ian offers a welcoming, calm and grounding approach, led by the individuality of the child or young person, which provides a space to play and create with artistic processes. Ian work in a way which searches for a child or young person's strengths in order to help them thrive. He believe its in the act of creation that we find resilience, self-esteem, meaning and healing and learn to move forwards towards a better life. No art skills are required.
Ian also has lots of experience working with young adults who are neurodiverse. He also has supported clients experiencing issues such as; bereavement, childhood trauma, sexual exploitation, drug and alcohol misuse, domestic abuse, faith issues, men's mental health and separation from children. He has been working in the field of neurodiversity in education for over ten years for Spectrum First Education. He has worked with a number of other organisations including the NHS, Waythrough, BBC Bitesize, Twinkl Educational Publishing, Mountain Healthcare and Pure Creative Arts.
