Welcome to IPTCA
The Irish Play Therapy Community Association began in 2020 and was officially formed in 2021.
Our vision as an organisation is to bring together Play Therapists in Ireland who are working within an Irish context. The Association extends to members, respect for their individuality, creativity and innovation, along with openness and kindness.
The main aim of the Association is to nurture and develop high standards of practice, available to both students and Certified Play Therapists. If you are in the process of seeking accreditation with your training bodies, you are encouraged to continue this process.
As part of maintaining similar professional standards like other Play Therapy organisations, you are expected to fulfil Garda vetting, C.P.D. and Supervision requirements.
You are encouraged to consider personal therapy to enhance your emotional well- being which in turn will support your practice of Play Therapy. To quote Abraham Maslow:
We may define therapy as a search for value.
We welcome you in joining our supportive and inclusive community, which is open to all Play Therapists.
Meet the Board
Director / Chairperson
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Director / Chairperson
Yvonne is a mother of 3 children. She has an Undergraduate in Social Care and worked in the area of children and families for 26 years. Yvonne is a qualified as a Play therapist of 9 years and has a private practice, Child Focus Therapy based in Lucan.
She also works as a parent consultant and has developed and provides training to meet the needs of professionals working with children and families with Seeds of Growth Training.
Yvonne has delivered the certificate level of the MA in Play Therapy with APAC in Dublin, for 8 years and served 2 years as Ptirl CEO.
Yvonne is a clinical creative supervisor and supervises the practice of therapists across Ireland.
She is the founder and Director of the Irish Play therapy Community association IPTCA. Yvonne is passionate and focused on the professional standards of play therapy professionals here in Ireland.
Advisor
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Audrey Gregan (Modikoane) originally from South Africa/Zimbabwe. Living in Ireland for fifty-one years. My professional background begins from having a Dip in Froebel Ed, Dip Special Ed, Dip Child development, Post Graduate Dip in Play Therapy, Clinical Supervisor, Cert in Sensory Integration, and she is an Accredited Play Therapist, with 42 years’ experience of working with autistic and neurodivergent children and their parents.
Audrey is a practicing DIR®/Floortime practitioner who integrates sensory integration in her work, she is a Baby Bonding Licensed practitioner and Certified AutPlay® Therapy Provider/ Supervisor and member of the advisory bord. She was CEO of Play Therapy Ireland for six years.
She was on the Joint Working Group for Play Therapy career structure with the HSE she gave workshops around the country to social care students and other services about Play Therapy. Audrey was a bord member of Play Therapy Ireland and PTI for bringing The Year 2000 Millennium World Congress on Child and Play Therapy in Trinity College Dublin in collaboration with Play Therapy International.
Her greatest interests are parent child relationship, attachment, and to have an umbrella organisation in Ireland to support and nurture all Play Therapist. I personally feel and see IPTCA holding this position with a very committed and forward-thinking team.
At present I have retired from working individually with children but continue to have consultation with parents. I am available for clinical supervision for play therapy.
Secretary
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Sorcha has worked in the field of Child and Family Work since 2003. Initially undertaking a Degree in Social Science, Sorcha went on to complete a Masters is Social Work (Social Science) in 2004.
In 2007 Sorcha entered the Play Therapy profession completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Based Play Therapy with the Academy for Play and Child Psychotherapy in 2010. In 2018 Sorcha completed a Certificate in Clinical Supervision of Play and Creative Arts Therapies.
Sorcha has practiced within a Family Centre setting in the Dublin area, in schools in North County Dublin, in Women’s and Children’s Services in the Domestic Violence Services, for Family Support Agencies, work for Tusla supporting children in the care system.
Sorcha runs a private practice in Swords, Co Dublin since 2014 where she works with a range of referrals with a specific interest in trauma and offers Clinical Supervision to Play and Creative Arts Therapists.
Director / Treasurer
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Helga qualified as a counsellor from Trinity College in 2005 and went on to become a play therapist in 2007, (now accredited in both).
She has a private practice where she works with all age groups from 4 years onwards.
She has recently qualified as a Trauma Therapist and is presently training up to become a Specialist Sandplay Therapist, which will add a positive link to her practice.
Advisor
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I am an Accredited Play Therapist working in private practice for over the past 20 years. I am also a Registered Sandplay Therapist and have a Masters degree in Practice-Based Play Therapy from Christ Church, University of Canterbury, U.K.
In my work with children, I have found that forging a successful alliance with the parents of the children I serve, has contributed greatly to the successful outcome of the work. An aspect of these interventions is providing one-to-one sessions with parents, to discuss, in confidence, the challenges they encounter in raising their children.
It is a pleasure to serve as an Adviser to the Board of IPTCA. More than ever, there is a growing awareness of the vital support Play Therapy offers children who encounter upheavals and difficulties in their young lives. I am delighted to be amongst friends and colleagues.
Garda Vetting Officer
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My name is Aisling Murray. I am a practising Play Therapist based in Portlaoise Town. I am originally from Galway, with a background of a Childcare Diploma and Montessori Degree, Business Certificate, Social Studies FETAC, and Neurology certificate from Tinsley house.
Having set up a practice in Portlaoise town 6 years ago, I noticed how isolating it can be to practice as a sole trader and especially as a Play Therapist as we are still few and far between. With this in mind, I rented a building in the town centre and began subletting the rooms to other therapists, including myself, another Play Therapist, student play therapist, counsellor, speech therapist and learning support teachers.
This has grown from strength to strength. I felt that coming together as Play therapists especially, we really keep each other going. It helped Play therapists and myself, feel part of a group. We have peer group conversations and discuss cpd’s, resources and refer clients to each other.
I was approached to join the board of IPTCA and jumped to the chance. The hope for IPTCA is to support Play therapists in their practices, hold cpd’s and maintain a community feel withing Ireland and wider. It really underpins how I feel is the best way to increase support and the value of the Play Therapists.
Dr. Brendan harding
Design & Tech
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Stephanie has over 10 years experience working with children in a variety of capacities including, creative workshops and working as a Steiner Kindergarten Teacher.
She started her Play Therapy journey in 2018 and is now a fully qualified Play Therapist working from her own private practice in Sligo. https://stephaniebarnesplaytherapy.com
She holds a Postgraduate Diploma (Level 9) in Play Therapy with NUIG & APAC. She also has a BA Hon’s Degree in Art & Design. She uses these skills in IPTCA to help with any design elements needed such as the website, flyers & event posters.