Child, Youth, Family Therapist & Group Facilitator 

Based in Ngatea, Debbie has a private practice called ‘Ripples’. “It takes one session to create that ripple effect” Offering a range of Play Therapies, Youth support and Family Therapy as well as Group work. Her Initial training and qualifications were obtained in the UK, where she lived until moving to New Zealand in 2004.She is a trained Nursery Nurse, Hospital Play Specialist, Registered Child Centered Play Therapist, Integrative Play Therapist, Family Therapist and Group Facilitator with additional training in COPMIA (Children Of Parents with Mental Illness and Addictions), IDT (Interactive Drawing Therapy) and Grief/Bereavement. 

She is one of only two New Zealanders to have completed a Masters Degree in Child Therapeutic Play.  

Debbie is a Registered Child Centrered Play Therapist and member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association Play Therapy (https://anzapt.nz/) 

Debbie is currently a provider for Infant Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (ICAMHS) Oranga Tamariki (Social Services), Ministry of Education, a local ‘Trauma’ informed school

She is currently a provider for Infant Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (ICAMHS) Oranga Tamariki (Social Services), Ministry of Education, a local ‘Trauma’ informed school and two NGO. For over 30 years, here in NZ and UK Debbie has been offering Specialist Play Therapies, Family Therapy and facilitating groups for Children, Youth and Families affected by Historical Trauma, Physical illness, especially Blood Cancers, Blood Disorders and Immune Deficiency Disorders. Mental Illness, especially Anxiety. Those too that are affected by grief, in relation to parental separation, change and death of a loved one through a Terminal Illness, Suicide or Sudden Death. 

Debbie was the first community hospital play specialist in the UK supporting children at home to process their cancer diagnosis especially in their palliative and dying stage. She has written a children’s book about the dying process ‘The Birth of a Butterfly’ and has written chapters in nursing reference books on the importance of specialist play. 

Hospice Waikato (Rainbow Place) brought Debbie over to NZ in 2004 to work as the first Community Hospital Play Specialist within Hospice NZ. Since then she has worked in many Non-Government Agencies (NGO) extending her knowledge within child/youth mental health, neuro diversity and trauma. 

Along with a variety of Play Therapies offered she also uses Creative and Expressive therapies such as: Clay Therapy • Puppetry • Lego Play • Journaling • Creative Writing • Sand Therapy • Sensory Play • Activities relating to feelings • Story Telling. Debbie also offers Filial Therapy and Child, Parent Relationship Therapy.