Our Therapists

Jeanette Scott

M.Psych
MA in Psychoanalytical Observational Studies
Diploma in Systemic Work With Individuals, Families and Young People
RMN

I am a fully qualified Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist, registered with with ACP. I have considerable experience of working with a variety of different people of different ages, cultures and beliefs.

Marcia Poyner

BSc. (Hons) Counselling and Therapeutic Studies
Diploma in Counselling Teenagers
Diploma in Trauma and Mental Health Informed Schools and Communities

I have been working with children, young people, and their families since 2009, initially within the local authority and then in the third sector. For five years prior to joining YPCS, I worked for a local alcohol charity, within their young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing project.

Learn more about Marcia's role

I currently work in the community at The Annabelle Davis Centres in Yaxley and Wisbech, working alongside the Clinical Services Director and managing the triaging and allocating of referrals. I am also based in a secondary school in Peterborough; work includes short- and longer-term counselling, as well as facilitating the delivery of mental health informed staff training and assemblies. In addition, I am involved in pilot projects at Kings Ripton Court in Huntingdon, supporting both staff and residents, as well as at Romsey Mill in Cambridge, to support their youth workers.

My work as a therapist is integrative and trauma informed, involving working collaboratively with parents/carers and professionals. I believe in and am driven by the power of the therapeutic relationship, based on engagement, openness, and equality. I aim to empower young people to take steps towards change and ultimately, to support them in enjoying a capacity for a compassionate relationship with themselves and others. In equipping young people with a safe space and offering evidence-based psychoeducation, they can be prevented from being pathologised, enabled to process painful life experiences and make informed decisions about key aspects of their lives.

Kirsty Skutela

BSc. (Hons) Psychology
PG Dip. Play Therapy
Parent-Child Attachment Play
Intensive Interaction

I have been working therapeutically with young people since 2015 using play and the creative arts. My Integrative Holistic approach places the young person at the centre, giving them the opportunity to make choices and decisions whilst we explore the conscious and unconscious through a range of creative mediums. Much of my work is non-directive, allowing the young person to take the lead, but I also integrate the use of directive approaches.

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I currently work as a Play Therapist for YPCS at the Annabelle Davis Centre and within primary schools. I also facilitate online and face-to-face wellbeing groups. I previously spent several years in special needs education working with children with autistic spectrum disorder, challenging behaviour and emotional and social difficulties. This was where I discovered the transformative power of play and that we don’t always need words to make connections. I have also worked in a college and with vulnerable adults in the community.

I wanted to work with young people as I believe early intervention is crucial for supporting mental health. The difficulties they face are not always recognised and so it became my passion to give young people the space, sincerity and support they deserve. As young people cannot always find the words for their feelings and experiences, I wanted to provide a means for self-expression and emotional exploration that doesn’t rely on being verbal.

Nathan Osborne

Dip. Therapeutic Counselling

I am trained in Integrative Counselling and began my counselling journey in 2011. I integrate Humanistic and Psychodynamic approaches depending on the needs of the client. However, the most important approach in working with young people is building a good working relationship.

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I work as a counsellor for YPCS and City College Peterborough, and hold my own private practice for young people and adults. I have extensive experience in the criminal justice system; I have worked for Cambridgeshire Constabulary since 2012 supporting victims of crime and offering them a tailored support package. I have had previous counselling experience with Embrace Child Victims of Crime, YMCA and Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall hospice and I have worked with vulnerable people within homeless accommodations in Peterborough.

I wanted to work with young people as I find sometimes they don’t feel heard or understood. Young people are the future and I believe maintaining good mental health is key in guiding them towards the future they want and desire.

Ellie Ruggeri

MA Integrative Child Psychotherapy (Final Year)
MA Social Work
PG Dip Integrative Child Psychotherapy Studies
Advanced Diploma in the Therapeutic & Educational Application of the Arts

I have worked with children of all ages for over ten years in schools, foster care, children’s homes, family homes, and now at YPCS. My training is integrative, which means I tailor my therapeutic approach to suit the needs of each individual.

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I enjoy talking with families and young people about what matters to them; about issues they may face, and how they might gain more satisfaction and meaning from their relationships.

It can be useful to talk about early experiences and the family background with parents or with the young person themselves. Drawing, painting, using clay, music, and any other art form can also be useful for self-expression. Every behaviour is a communication, and by discussing dreams, body language, and unconscious processes we may better understand causes of current distress. With increasing awareness of our patterns of behaviour we can learn to take more control of our lives.

Daniella Budd

MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy
MA Diploma Trauma and Mental Health Informed Schools
Award in Bereavement Counselling

I began my journey as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist seven years ago, and since then have worked with young people and their families in a range of contexts. Dance Movement Psychotherapy recognises that therapy can sometimes be difficult, and allows a child or young person to be able to explore their feelings or experiences through sensations and rhythms in the body.

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I like to help young people find a way to access therapy that feels safe for them. This may include using movement, props, words or play. My approach is very child centred and focuses on the relationship between a child’s inner world and their outer world. I have a keen interest in the works of Laban and Kestenberg and use these theories to inform my practice and help a young person to develop socially and emotionally.

I enjoy working with families and supporting adults who work with young children. I deliver workshops and training to offer understanding and practical ways of working with young people, particularly with those who are living with the effects of trauma. I strongly believe that the more we collaborate and share, the more we can help support a young person to grow and develop.

Ged Robinson

BSc Hons Integrative Counselling

I am an experienced counsellor who has provided support to young people and their families through a variety of different roles. These include Children’s Services, college/university settings, Charitable Trusts and via the NHS since 2013.

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I offer specialist support to young people and their families around Harmful Sexual Behaviours (HSB), including family intervention.

I work with YPCS to offer support to young people in my local area and to be part of a proactive team who have the community at the heart of their development.

Jody Robins

PG Dip. Counselling
Diploma in Online Counselling
PG. Dip. in Trauma and PTSD (in progress)

I currently work as a counsellor for YPCS at the Annabelle Davis Centre and have my own private practice. Prior to counselling I worked as a mental health recovery worker which guided me to train as an Integrative Counsellor with a special interest in trauma. I am trained to work with young people and their families using Trauma Focused-CBT and am working towards a Post Graduate Diploma in Trauma and PTSD.

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My aim in counselling is to meet the client where they are at and help then gain understanding over their situation, supporting them to build on existing resources and additional coping skills where necessary. I learn so much about the world through working with young people and it is a great privilege to work in a role where I get to share a small part of their journey.

Cara Bowler

BSc. (Hons) Counselling Psychotherapy
Dip Integrative Counselling
Dip Trauma, The Brain and Recovery
Level 6 Supervision
Trauma Informed Bronze and Silver

I am trained as an integrative Therapist and have worked within a psychodynamic model for the last six years. I currently work as a therapeutic supervisor within the seven eyed model, a Humanistic-Integrative Psychotherapist for YPCS, counselling coordinator for MINDBLMK and manage Private Practice. I have worked within the mental health and education sector for over ten years. This has been mainly with, but not limited to, trauma and exploitation.

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Before starting my journey with YPCS I previously worked for Embrace supporting young people who have been a victim of crime and Bedfordshire Open Door supporting young people with an additional need.

I offer a safe, warm, confidential, creative space and a not ‘one size fits all’ approach to counselling and supervision. I bring the creative aspect of counselling and supervision into the room. When dealing with trauma and deep rooted worries or concerns, it can be difficult to even know where to begin, especially when we first enter the therapy room.

Quite often it can be someone’s first experience of counselling and so being able to provide a safe space is critical to your journey. I aim to provide a warm, comfortable, non-judgemental environment where I hope you will feel safe, respected, and heard.

I feel the therapeutic process starts with building a safe and trusting relationship and this can take some time; it is after this is established the work can take place. I understand putting your trust in someone is a big step but it’s an important step for therapy to be effective.

I aim to walk alongside you on your journey and hope that you don’t feel so alone.

Jacqui Wheeler

B.Ed.Hons
DiPG. Nat.SENDCo Award
M.Ed
Dip. Child Counselling

I trained as an Integrative Child and Adolescent Counsellor at the Institute of Arts in Therapy and Education in London and am a registered member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling Psychotherapists). Before becoming a Counsellor, I held various roles within school communities. I also worked for a Local Authority as a Specialist Advisory Teacher and for a few years as an Independent Educational Consultant. In addition, I am a qualified SENDCo (Special Educational Needs/Disability Co-ordinator).

Learn more about Jacqui's role

For me, the emotional well-being and mental health of children and young people are paramount. It is for this reason that I decided to retrain and focus the remainder of my vocational career as a Counsellor, working alongside children and young people by providing a safe, empathic, non-judgemental therapeutic space to help them explore and process feelings, thoughts and challenging situations.

I work from an integrative perspective which means that I can use various theories and approaches to meet the individual needs of the young person on their therapeutic journey.

I am particularly mindful of the connection between the mind and the body and how the arts can be used to bring into conscious awareness feelings that may not previously have been understood or expressed. Current research in neuroscience and the human brain is also a growing field of learning that contributes to my integrative approach to counselling. The basis of my practice, however, is always the therapeutic relationship. This is integral for any positive change and healing to occur.

As well as being a member of the Young People`s Counselling Service, my counselling background includes working as a Counsellor in primary and secondary schools.

Josie Webster

MA Dramatherapy

I have been working therapeutically with children and young people since 2018 using play, drama and the creative arts. I support young people to express and process their inner worlds through a variety of media, keeping my work client-centred and client-led.

I specialise in supporting children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions, as well as co-occuring conditions and difficulties. I work in a neurodiversity affirmative way and keep the client's strengths at the centre of my work.

Karen Eastwood

MA Dramatherapy
Level One and Two Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy
Children’s Accelerated Trauma Treatment Trained
Certificate in Creative Supervision

I qualified as a Dramatherapist in 2012 from Roehampton university. As a Dramatherapist, I use a range of action methods to explore a wide variety of issues and needs in an indirect way leading to psychological, emotional and social changes. Activities can include drama, story-making, music, movement, and art all drawn from theatrical foundations e.g. roles we play and mask making. I use a range of dramatic techniques including verbal and non-verbal ways of working. Embodiment and movement are also vital in our practice.

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I have a background in Education which prompted me to work therapeutically with children and young people. Since qualifying I have worked in a variety of settings: mainstream and alternative provision and ages ranging from primary to further education.

My journey to Dramatherapy started on a school trip to Africa where I delivered ‘therapeutic’ work shops to young people and their families in communities and clinics. I had always had a passion for Drama and was involved in theatre groups as a child. I was then able to combine my love of theatre with a teaching career. All this forged my route to becoming a Dramatherapist. I feel privileged to do what I do and have met some amazing young people and families on my journey. Children and young people are experts in using themselves in the work. Working at a distance and creatively provides space to explore difficult emotions in a safe and contained environment. The practice does not necessarily rely on spoken language alone to resolve what a child or young person may wish to address, explore or seek support with.

My work is DDP informed and for the last eight years I have been registered to provide therapeutic provision to fostered and adopted children and young people. I work alongside the family to offer therapeutic parenting support and in addition, carry out life story work with young people. I also work with the school ensuring best outcomes for the young person.

I am a qualified supervisor and trained to work creatively, in a person centered way. I have supervised counsellors, therapists and teaching staff.

As co-convenor of the Education sub-committee, for the British Association of Dramatherapists, I liaise with colleagues working in the Education sector on best practice, offering advice and CPD at training events.

Young People’s Counselling Service
Annabelle Davis Centre
School Bungalow
Broadway
Yaxley
Peterborough PE7 3JD

Phone: 01733 903288
E-mail: admin@ypcs.uk

Registered Charity No. 1190555