Kelly McCarthy
Colchester,Essex
Summary
Dedicated and compassionate professional with expertise in complex trauma understanding and emotional regulation techniques. Proficient in suicide prevention and risk management, with a strong understanding of Autism, ADHD, and sensory processing differences. Skilled in therapeutic approaches for non-verbal clients, aiming to enhance client well-being through tailored interventions.
Accredited Play Therapist under the British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT) with online DBS certificate, ICO registration, professional liability and indemnity insurance and full and clean driving licence.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Mental health practitioner
Open Minds (CAMHS)
Halifax, West Yorkshire
2022.09 - 2025.02
- Established therapeutic relationships with young people and their families to improve mental health and wellbeing, using trauma-informed integrative approach specific to young person's needs. This included Cognitive Behavioural-informed strategies, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy-informed strategies, person-centred talking and creative arts elements.
- During this time was seconded to Mental Health Support Teams in Schools (MHST) for six months, which involved one-to-one sessions with young people in their school setting, as well as group work, parent training, staff consultations and offering PHSE lessons and assemblies for pupils across county.
- Collaborated with school staff to support young people presenting with Emotionally-Based School Avoidance (EBSA).
- Created and delivered workshop for both pupils and staff teams across Calderdale around trauma and emotional regulation.
Play Therapist
eQuiPT Therapy Services
Barnsley, South Yorkshire
2022.08 - 2025.01
- Provided attachment-focused, child-centred, trauma informed therapy to children aged 4 to 12, both in therapy centre and in school settings.
- Provided regular therapy review meetings with parents and carers, key school staff and social workers to support those around child in responding therapeutically to meet their unique needs.
- Assessed children's attachment strategies using Child Attachment and Play Assessment (CAPA) to inform therapeutic responses to child, specific to their presentation.
- Wrote detailed assessment and therapy reports whilst maintaining confidentiality, to support each child and their wider support system.
Mental health practitioner
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
Colchester, Essex
2020.01 - 2022.07
- Coordinated safe, responsible for large caseload of young people, with severe, enduring mental health issues, some of whom were being discharged from inpatient units. Most of these young people had diagnosis of Autism or ADHD and many were non-verbal requiring integrative therapeutic approach.
- Conducted risk assessments to safeguard individuals from self-harm or harm towards others.
- Liaised with social services to secure necessary support systems for vulnerable individuals.
- Maintained accurate clinical notes and assessment reports to inform young person's care plan.
- Offered crisis intervention during emergency situations, ensuring immediate care and support were provided.
- Delivered psychoeducation to families, enhancing their understanding of mental health conditions.
- Organised and led therapeutic group sessions for young people to support their wellbeing.
Play Therapist and Therapeutic Assistant
Stepping Stones Child Therapy Consultants Ltd
Cardiff, South Wales
2019.02 - 2019.12
- Used child-centred play therapy to work one-to-one with children aged 3 to 13 who were fostered or adopted
- Provided families and professionals with progress updates and psychoeducation during review meetings and in reports
- Worked effectively with other therapists in family sessions using Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Theraplay principles and Life Story Work
- Prepared resources and organised setting's administrative needs
Student Support Officer and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
St Benedict’s Secondary Catholic School
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
2016.11 - 2017.07
- Fostered strong relationships with students to provide emotional and pastoral support when needed. This included one-to-one sessions, drop-ins, lunch clubs and delivering workshops and assemblies.
- Strengthened student motivation and confidence by implementing creative learning strategies where there were barriers to learning.
- Being immediately available and flexible in times of crisis.
- Organised all safeguarding documents.
- Supported young people who were young carers, as school's Young Carers Ambassador.
Residential Support Worker
Hebble Lodge Children’s Home
Halifax, West Yorkshire
2016.07 - 2016.10
- Cared for everyday needs of children aged 9-11 who were presenting with complex emotional and behavioural needs.
- Deescalated tense situations through use of effective communication strategies and therapeutic parenting techniques.
- Liaised effectively with therapists, social workers, LADOs and IROs
- Escorted children safely to supervised family visits
- Conducted routine checks during night shifts to maintain secure environment for everyone in residence.
Year 1 teacher
Dixons Allerton Academy
Bradford, West Yorkshire
2015.08 - 2016.07
- Created lesson plans and scheduled each day to promote maximum student engagement.
- Adjusted teaching methods according to individual student's needs, ensuring as inclusive learning environment as 29 of children in class had English as an Additional Language
- Delivered workshops to families to support pupil learning and wellbeing
- Communicated regularly with parents about their children's performance and behaviour at school.
- Coordinated school trips, broadened pupils' cultural exposure and understanding.
- Collected, analysed and tracked data on student progress.
Early Years teacher
Bolton Brow Academy
Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire
2014.09 - 2015.07
- Planned and delivered engaging quality curriculum to classes of up to 32 children in line with EYFS framework.
- Provided positive classroom experiences, developing pupil understanding of abstract concepts with creative, engaging learning-through-play activities both indoors and outdoors.
- Collaborated effectively with colleagues for planning thematic units of study.
Education
Master of Science - Play Therapy
University of South Wales
Newport, Wales 2017.09 - 2019.08
Post Graduate Certificate - Education
University of Nottingham
Nottingham 2013.08 - 2014.07
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
University of Nottingham
Nottingham 2010.09 - 2013.07
A Levels/GCSEs -
The Brooksbank School & Sixth Form, West Yorkshire
2002.09 - 2007.06
Skills
- Complex trauma understanding
- Emotional regulation and co-regulation techniques
- Suicide prevention and risk management skills
- Understanding of Autism, ADHD and sensory processing differences and impact on daily living
- Therapeutic skills for non-verbal clients
Certification
- Child Attachment and Play Assessment Administration Certificate (October 2024)- 7.5 hours
- Certificate in Integrative Sandplay Studies (July 2022)- 70 hours
- Clinical Supervision Training (July/October 2023)- 28 hours
- Assessing for Suicide in Kids (October 2020)- 8 hours
- Solution Focused Therapy (October 2020)- 12 hours
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (May 2021)- 15 hours
- Working with Transgender, Non-Binary and Gender Questioning Clients (October 2021)- 3 hours
Timeline
Mental health practitioner
Open Minds (CAMHS)
2022.09 - 2025.02
Play Therapist
eQuiPT Therapy Services
2022.08 - 2025.01
Mental health practitioner
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
2020.01 - 2022.07
Play Therapist and Therapeutic Assistant
Stepping Stones Child Therapy Consultants Ltd
2019.02 - 2019.12
Master of Science - Play Therapy
University of South Wales
2017.09 - 2019.08
Student Support Officer and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
St Benedict’s Secondary Catholic School
2016.11 - 2017.07
Residential Support Worker
Hebble Lodge Children’s Home
2016.07 - 2016.10
Year 1 teacher
Dixons Allerton Academy
2015.08 - 2016.07
Early Years teacher
Bolton Brow Academy
2014.09 - 2015.07
Post Graduate Certificate - Education
University of Nottingham
2013.08 - 2014.07
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
University of Nottingham
2010.09 - 2013.07
A Levels/GCSEs -
The Brooksbank School & Sixth Form, West Yorkshire
2002.09 - 2007.06