About the Therapist

My Name is Claudia McGowan and I am a Child and Adolescent Therapist.

I have been working with children and adolescents and their families for more than 13 years, first in a young refugees’ project, then for 7 years in CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) and now in schools and in private practice. I am also a qualified mindfulness coach and a Parent-Child-Attachment-Play Practitioner.

My work is systemic and I work closely with parents, teachers, outside agencies, acknowledging the need for all those around the child to be able to effectively support him or her, and to feel supported during the therapeutic process in better understanding the child. My approach is integrative as I often draw on a number of theories and models of therapeutic work including Psychodynamic theory, Attachment theory, Play therapy and Person-Centred approaches.

Relevant Qualifications and Trainings

·MA Practiced Based Play and Creative Arts Therapy, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds.

·Post Graduate Diploma in Play and Creative Arts Therapy, Canterbury Christ Church

University, Canterbury

·Post Graduate Certificate in Play and Creative Arts Therapy, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury

·BA Fine Art and History of Art, Goldsmiths University, London

Further Training and CPDs

·PCAP parent-child-attachment play, Practitioner training

·Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Arbours Association, London.

·Art Therapy Foundation Diploma, The British Association of Art Therapists

·Mindfulness Coach, Children and Young People, Relax Kids, London

·Voice Collective Group Facilitator Training (for children and young people who hear voices), Camden Minds, London.

·Loss and Bereavement Training, Cruse Bereavement

·Working with Identity and Self-esteem in young people with eating disorders, BACP

·Working with young people who self-harm, BACP

·Working with young people in the LGBT community, BACP

·Lego Therapy Training, Evelina Hospital (SALT team)

·Attachment Interventions for Children, Teenagers and adults (Dan Hughes), The Centre for Child Mental Health

·Working with risky adolescents, BACP

·Attachment and early trauma based perspective, BACP

·Picture of Me, Helping children and their families to understand their diagnosis.

I am a full member of BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and adhere to their Ethical Framework and Professional Conduct Procedure. I attend regular clinical supervision with a BACP approved supervisor.