Our Trainers

All Place2Be trainers are experienced, qualified counsellors with extensive experience of working inside schools. Many have worked, or are currently working as School Project Managers, while others have equivalent experience gained in health and education roles. They are supported by a dedicated training administration team.

Alex NobleAndrya AndreouCarin ShineDavid Exall
Dee InghamEmma WhiteFrances GriffinGemma Hughes
Gill HarrisHannah SaxtonHilary KeanJames McAllister
Jan DudleyJudy HunterKelli Swain-CowperLara Roth
Matthew Audley Niki CooperPaul Parsons Rosie Paterson
Sarah Heap Shree GrantSiobhan LennonSue Chapman
Sue BurgessVicki Hall Yvonne Fernandez

Alex Noble

BA Hons., Dip Couns., ADIP, MBACP, UKCP accredited.
Alex worked in the art world before training as an integrative psychotherapist at Regent’s College, London. Alex has worked with both adults (particularly lone parents) and children in various settings including the NHS and the voluntary sector. Alex is presently working as a School Project Manager in our Wandsworth Hub and recently became part of the training team. She is currently undertaking a UKCP Conversion course/MA in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy at Terapia.
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Andrya Andreou

BA HONS, MA
Andrya graduated with an MA in Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling, following the completion of a BA in Sociology and Social Policy. Now a fully trained psychotherapist, Andrya works with adults and children in a therapeutic setting. With 12 years experience of working with children, she has previously worked with children and adults with special needs in America and has also worked with ChildLine as a counselling supervisor and trainer, and as a welfare assistant. Andrya has been a trainer for the past three years and is an associate trainer and now the Transitions Project Manager for a new Place2Be pilot project in a London secondary school.
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Carin Shine

BA (Hons), Dip Couns, MBACP
Carin trained as a Person-Centred Counsellor at the Metanoia Institute and worked extensively with adults, particularly in the field of HIV, before joining The Place2Be. Carin is a School Project Manager in the Brent Hub and a trainer. Prior to her counselling career, Carin worked in entertainment and public relations, most recently at the BBC for 7 years. She also has her own private counselling practice.
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David Exall

Dip cou, BACP associate member
David studied counselling at Lewisham College, and has since studied Clinical Supervision at Masters level with the University of South Wales and is a certified supervisor. David has worked with children in the voluntary sector for seven years and has worked in further and higher education as a counsellor. David joined The Place2Be as a School Project Manager before becoming a full time trainer where he was appointed as Senior External Trainer with responsibility for the delivery of training to school staff. He also has a small private practice, working with both adults and children.
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Dee Ingham

BA Hons, PG Dip. Art Psych, State Reg (HPC)

Dee Ingham is a state registered Art Psychotherapist who studied at The Centre of Psychotherapeutic Studies in The University of Sheffield. She has been with The Place2Be since 2001 and is both a trainer and a Regional Manager. Her clinical work with children spans a breadth of agencies - education, CAMHS, social care and the voluntary and community sector.  She is presently working with the Support after Adoption Team in CAMHS. In addition to her clinical work she delivers training to agencies such as Barnardo's and Women’s Aid. Dee is currently completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychoanalytic Infant Observational Studies (Tavistock) at The Birmingham Trust for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy.


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Emma White

Adv Dip and BACP Accredited
Emma's counselling training came from a Rogerian model of peer based learning through the experience of the large group. This very dynamic course and along with her fine art training led Emma to want to take an active form of counselling and work creatively with children. Emma has been a School Project Manager with The Place2Be for 7 years and set up and run a practice counselling children at a women's health centre. She previously worked supporting families affected by domestic violence and now runs workshops helping mums and children to communicate around their experience.
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Frances Griffin

PGDipNDPT (Non-directive Play Therapy)
Frances trained as a Non-directive Play Therapist at the University of York, following a career in Education and Health working with children for over 25 years. Frances specialised in working with children with life threatening and life limiting conditions. She held an honorary contract with Lothian Primary Care Trust as part of their CAMHS team before joining The Place2Be. Currently she works as a School Project Manager in two Edinburgh schools and recently became a member of the training team.
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Gemma Hughes

DIP and Cert Ed

Gemma worked as a Family Support Worker qualifying as a Person Centered Counsellor. She had a small private practice for three years working with adults and young people in a secondary school, and has worked for two years teaching counselling in an FE college. Gemma qualified with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education in 2007 and is a Supervisor with Youthreach working with qualified and trainee counsellors. Gemma has been a School Project Manager for five years and has recently joined the training team.


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Gill Harris

BSc B.A (Hons)
Gill Harris trained as a Person-Centered counsellor at Metanoia Institute after working in the field of community work and social enterprise. She has worked therapeutically with children and adults for 8 years in a variety of settings. Gill has been a School Project Manager for over 6 years, and a trainer with ThePlace2Be since 2003. She also works as a school counsellor.
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Hannah Saxton

BSc Hons, Dip Couns accredited, MBAPC Accredited

Hannah trained as a Person-centred Counsellor following a degree in Psychology. Her previous experience includes extensive work as a counsellor for Women's Aid working with adults and children, and as a clinical supervisor of Diploma students. She is currently involved in delivering parenting and child development courses in the community (e.g. via Sure Start). She is also a school governor, and was awarded a distinction for her MA in Counselling Children and Young People. Hannah has been a School Project Manager for over six years, working therapeutically with children on a one-to-one and group basis and has been a trainer with the Place2Be since 2003. Hannah also works as a Specialist Practitioner for Rushcliffe Emotional Health and Well being Team ( Tier 2 CAMHS).


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Hilary Kean

MA; BSc (Hons), PGCE, MBACP (Accredited)
Whilst completing the final year of her BSC(Hons), Hilary worked for the Newcastle and Gateshead branch of Cruse Bereavement as a counsellor, supervisor and trainer and was also the Co-Chair of the Counselling and Training Sub-Committee. Hilary graduated from Durham University with an MA in Counselling Studies and worked as a lecturer at a local college teaching on the HND in Counselling course. Hilary started at The Place2Be as a volunteer counselor and went on to become a School Project Manager. She is now the Hub Manager in Blyth and has a small private practice working with adults whilst being a member of the training team.
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James McAllister

PGDip; M.A. (UKCP reg.)
James completed a Post Graduate diploma in Psychosynthesis Counselling in 2000. After working with children as a Volunteer Counsellor with the Place2Be, James became a School Project Manager and over the course of six years managed projects in three different hubs. During this time, he completed an MA in Child, Adolescent and Family Therapy. He has since joined the training department and his experience includes supervising students on MA courses, delivering Sandtray and Art Therapy Trainings, as well as working therapeutically with Families and children in CAMHS, Secondary and Primary schools.
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Jan Dudley

Dip.Couns (dist), MBACP accredited
Jan trained as an Integrative Counsellor at UEL, following a career in Nursing and Social Care. Now an Associate Trainer, Jan has worked as a Trainer with ThePlace2Be for four years and has contributed strongly to the development of our workshops and courses. Prior to this, she worked as a School Project Manager within our Greenwich Hub. Jan has worked therapeutically within a variety of settings including Primary Care and the Voluntary Sector and as Core Tutor/Associate Lecturer on the Inter-Psyche Diploma in Counselling, where she also provided group supervision to students in their final year of training. Alongside her training role with ThePlace2Be, Jan has a Private Counselling and Supervision Practice, and she also works as a School Counsellor in Kent.
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Judy Hunter

BA(Ed), DipChPst(NZ), member BACP
In 1997 Judy graduated with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Child Psychotherapy from the University of Otago, New Zealand. Over the past 10 years she has worked with children and their families in several Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) settings in both New Zealand and London. Since 1999 Judy has been actively involved in the supervision, consultation and training of a wide range of professionals. From 2003 to 2006, she set up and delivered a community-based mental health project for under 5's, their parents and local professionals in South London. Following this she joined The Place2Be Training Department as the Internal Senior Trainer where she is responsible for overseeing the ongoing delivery of trainings to clinical staff and volunteers.
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Kelli Swain-Cowper

MA, ATR, BACP associate member
Kelli received her BA Magna cum Laude in Fine Arts and Psychology in the United States and an MA in Art Psychotherapy from New York University. She went on to specialise in working with children and adolescents and received further training at St. Luke's Roosevelt Child Psychiatry Clinic in New York City where she later worked as a creative arts psychotherapist and provided training to a wide range of mental health professionals. Kelli has now worked with children and young people for 14 years in both community and school based therapeutic programs doing both individual and groupwork. Kelli worked as a School Project Manager with The Place2Be for four years and is now an Associate Trainer whilst maintaining her own private practice.
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Lara Roth

BSc (Hons) PGDip
Lara has an honours degree in Psychology as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (Integrative) from UEL. Lara has worked as a Counsellor in a variety of settings including Bereavement Support, a Drugs & Alcohol Clinic and with young adults with special needs. Her previous experience also includes working as a tutor with disaffected teenagers in a college setting. Lara has worked at Epping Forest College as a lecturer and ran the "Introduction to Counselling" course for a number of years as well as assisting in delivery of the Counselling Foundation course. Having started with The Place2be over 5 years ago, Lara is currently a School Project Manager in Harlow, runs a small private practice, and recently joined the training team.
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Matthew Audley

MA Performance Arts, Diploma Counselling, MA Psychosynthesis Psychotherapy  UKCP reg psychotherapist

Originally working as Performance Poet and in Improvisational Theatre, Matthew then took his work as drama group facilitator to primary and secondary schools, prisons, homeless centres and elderly people's homes. He completed training as a counsellor in 1995 and as psychotherapist in 1999, whilst also completing a Gestalt training in working with couples. He has worked with the Place2Be, as counsellor, SPM and for the last 5 years as Hub Manager in Greenwich, joining the training team in 2003. He has run a private practise working with adults, children and couples since 1995. He is currently a supervisor and member of the core staff on the Integrative Child Psychotherapy Training at Terapia in North London.


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Niki Cooper

BA Hons, Dip Couns, MBACP accredited
Niki worked in theatre for ten years before training to be a counsellor at London Marriage Guidance (LMG). After gaining her initial counselling Diploma, Niki completed a second Diploma specialising in psychosexual difficulties, then worked as a community-based counsellor for LMG for several years. She went on to help develop a project supporting women with Post Natal depression and their babies, which led to an interest in working with children. Niki started out in this field working with Year 10 students at secondary school before joining the Place2Be in 2001 as a School Project Manager. She has been a sessional trainer for four years and has just been appointed Course Leader to develop a Diploma and Masters plrogramme for the Place2Be.
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Paul Parsons

Adv Dip Couns. MBACP
Paul trained to become a counsellor at Orpington College. This was his first experience of The Place2Be, where he was a volunteer for almost two years as part of his placement. Paul has worked with adults and children in other settings, however was encouraged by his experience of working therapeutically with primary age children to apply for the post of Assistant School Project Manager. Paul progressed to School Project Manager, while continuing his career as a sales manager. He finally made a full time commitment to The Place2Be and now runs two projects in Medway as well as being part of the training team.
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Rosie Paterson

Dip cou. BSc (HONS)
After 10 years of working as a journalist, Rosie qualified as a psychodynamic counsellor. She has worked therapeutically with children for more than 5 years in a number of settings including individual and whole class work and her counseling experience also includes two years with The Samaritans. Rosie joined The Place2Be as a School Project Manager and has worked in both our Southwark and Enfield hubs and has recently joined the training team.
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Sarah Heap

Bsc (hons) Psychology; Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling; MBACP (Accredited)
Sarah has 20 years experience of social and therapeutic work with children and families.  She has a wide range of experience in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and adult mental health, as well as working in an Educational Psychology Service. Sarah qualified with an Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling in 2003. She continued of working with children's well-being and mental health, and within the contexts school, the family and Looked After Children. Sarah has specialised in working with children and families effected by trauma of domestic abuse. She has taken further training in working with trauma, systemic family work and parenting models.


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Shree Grant

MA. Dramatherapy, Adv. Dip Psychotherapy, Dip Counselling, HPC registered, MBACP.

After a theatrical and artistic background in education and performance, Shree went on to become a dramatherapist. Following this she studied Integrative Psychosynthesis Counselling, psychotherapy and couples counselling and has had thirteen years experience working with a variety of adults, young people, children, couples and groups. She has been with The Place2Be for seven years, six of which were as a Project Manager in Enfield, during which time she completed a supervision training at IATE.


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Siobhan Lennon

Post Graduate Diploma in Dance Movement Therapy
Siobhan Lennon has a background in Community Theatre both as a performer and as an instigator of community arts projects. She trained as a Dance Movement Therapist at Hertfordshire University (Arts Therapies) and has worked in a variety of settings including working in special needs, with refugees and in psychiatric day centres. She has worked as a School Project Manager in the Greenwich Hub for over four years and has recently joined the training team.
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Sue Chapman

MA, BEd, RPT, BACP accredited
Sue is a qualified Teacher, an accredited Counsellor and a Certified Clinical Supervisor. She worked in schools for 15 years, initially as an Art/Drama specialist and then later as a Special Needs Teacher. Her counselling practice began in 1989, and since then, Sue has worked therapeutically with children in both primary and secondary schools. She now delivers Place2Be training to a wide range of school staff teams and professionals and is also a Student Counsellor at Durham University.
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Sue Burgess

BA Hons Fine art, Advanced Diploma, Diploma Humanistic Intergritive Counselling. BACP registered.

After working with children for 15 years in both private and school settings, Sue trained as an artist. Sue then began running art workshops in schools for children with behavior and emotional difficulties. Sue then qualified in Humanistic Integrative Counselling Advanced Diploma and began her private counselling practice working with child/adolescent as well as with adult clients. Sue has run two successful projects as school project manager in southwark and has been working for The Place2Be since 2001.


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Vicki Hall

Dipl. Couns. (Disc), BA Hons., MBACP (Accredited)
Vicki trained as an Integrative Humanistic Counsellor at UEL after completing a BA Hons degree. Since qualifying as a counsellor she has worked in Primary Care settings, private agencies and facilitated a Womens Group for MIND. Vicki has trained counsellors at Foundation level for four years in further and higher education institutes. Vicki joined The Place2be as the Volunteer Recruitment Officer and school counsellor in our Greenwich hub. She has recently joined our training team and continues with a small private practice working with adults including trainee counsellors.
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Yvonne Fernandez

Ad Dip Cou MBACP

Yvonne received an Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling at Goldsmiths and followed this with a PG Cert in Therapeutic Communication with Children at the Tavistock. She has worked with children and their families for more than 35 years both in the UK and the US and her experience includes youth work, early years, victims of domestic abuse and children in residential care. She is also a qualified social worker, working most recently in the multi-disciplinary Children and Families Team at St Thomas Hospital. Yvonne joined The Place2Be eight years ago as a School Project Manager.


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