• UKCP registered Integrative Child Psychotherapist
• Clinical Supervisor and Senior Consultant in working with children and young people with Complex Trauma
• Previously Acting Manager and Head of Therapy at residential therapeutic community
• Developed 52 week group work programme for traumatised children and young people in residential therapeutic school and community setting
• Senior Tutor, Masters Degree Programme in Child Psychotherapy (Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education/Academic Partner (University of East London))
• Senior Lecturer The Centre for Child Mental Health London
• Extensive experience in training, supervision and consultation with adoptive families and/or young people with complex trauma
• Contributing Author to Helping Teenagers with Anger and Low Self Esteem, M. Sunderland (2012) Hinton House Publishers Ltd.
• Approved Author for TeachIt online educational resource website for CPD blogs and articles on mental health in the classroom

• Senior Consultant and Trainer in Trauma Informed Practice and Emotional Health
• Educational Psychotherapist (MA in Therapeutic Education) Caspari
• Senior Trauma Informed Trainer for Trauma Informed schools UK

Previously

• Mental Health Practitioner for CAMHS, leading a programme of training on Emotional well being, attachment and mental health across Dorset. 
• Consultant for the Primary Strategy Team in Dorset, coordinating Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) and later as the Emotional well being Adviser for the Borough of Poole.
• Advisory teacher in Tanzania, East Africa
• Advisor for an East London Behaviour and Advisory Team
• Led a number of LA and multi- agency initiatives and has written and created PSHE materials for schools.
• Has a range of experience in training and consultative work having been a facilitator and trainer at National Conferences and a consultant trainer for the Institute of Education, London.
• Manager for Chesil Emotional Health and Behaviour Service, a team of professionals working to support children, families and schools, and created  Thrive Education Zones that operated as Thrive nurture bases for  children at risk of exclusion and supported families and schools to enable the children to return to mainstream provision. The project also worked with parents to support them and to enable them to build their own self-esteem in supporting their children.

After many years working as a theatre director I now have an MA in Integrative Arts Psychotherapy (Distinction).

I recently worked in the NHS with survivors of sexual abuse, and the legacy of trauma and complex PTSD. I have also worked with homeless groups, psychiatric patients, refugees and young offenders.

Currently much of my work is with staff and young people in performing arts and drama schools. At Guildhall we are introducing a strand to the training that recognises that psychological understanding can deeply enrich the student's practice, as well as supporting personal growth and resilience.

I am particularly interested in the ways the arts can support mental health by giving access to our inner resources, creativity and imagination.

For the last four years I have run a counselling service at the International School of Screen Acting and recently set one up at The British American Dramatic Academy.

BACKGROUND

My background is in theatre where all my productions were accompanied by an extensive education and outreach programme for young people. I have run workshops for the Arvon Foundation, the National Theatre, Arts Council and British Council as well as in many universities, schools, theatres and drama schools. I have written six plays, all published by Nick Hern books, which have been produced both nationally and internationally. My work is on the school syllabus.

Sonya Anjari: MA, Accredited MBACP is a Gestalt Centre trained Counsellor (2005) and Integrative Adolescent Therapeutic Counsellor (IATE 2009), Group Facilitator (2018), Child, Adolescent and Adult Clinical Supervisor (Terapia and Gestalt Centre 2018), Trauma Informed Schools Trainer (2018).

Sonya draws on 16 years of counselling experience in a variety of settings: in Japan with international teachers; secondary schools in London and Cornwall; West London drug and alcohol settings; Feltham Young Offenders Institute. Sonya developed an online counselling service for young people affected by another’s addiction and delivered Equine Assisted therapy. Sonya is a guest tutor with teaching institutions in Cornwall and is part of the senior trainer team with Trauma Informed Schools UK. Sonya provides clinical supervision and group facilitation to private practitioners, schools and charities working with people affected by trauma, alongside private practice.

Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist

I have been working with young people’s mental and emotional health for eight years, during which, I completed a Masters degree in Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy.

My clinical experience includes working with groups, children, young people and parents or carers, across various school settings, both primary and secondary and within CAMHs. I have experienced a variety of complex presenting issues and emotional or behavioural difficulties and I am particularly interested in the impact of trauma on attachment and developmental systems.

Prior to my training as a psychotherapist, I worked as a media executive for thirty years. I worked and travelled extensively around the world, which was a rewarding and educating experience.

I have degrees in English Literature and Victorian Studies and I have spoken at many conferences about my research papers on the Nineteenth Century, particularly on the Victorian ideology of the ‘ideal’ family.

• UKCP registered Integrative Child Psychotherapist
• Educational Consultant and Trainer Masters Degree programme in Child Psychotherapy leading to nationally recognised registration (UCKP). Adolescent Counselling and Emotional Literacy
• 28 years of experience in the field of Education and Emotional Literacy, Psychotherapy and Psychology working with adults, adolescents and children
• Psychotherapeutic work in hospitals, schools, private practise and for Parenting Groups, and Art Therapy Groups
• Founder of HeartSpace, Holistic, Education and Art Related Therapies
• Principal Trainer for Headstart Kernow roll-out for 3 Years Big Lottery Project to promote emotional wellbeing in schools
• Chair for The Centre for Child Mental Health international conference programme
• Principal Educator in Trauma Informed Practice

Ellie believes in the healing power of The Arts, Nature and Animals and regularly teaches accompanied by her therapy dog Gem