About Journey of a Therapist: What's it like to be a Play Therapist?
Ever wanted to know why people become Play Therapists? What's it like to do as a job? This show features conversations with qualified Play Therapists who are all working in the field. We discuss how they got to where they are today and what their work is like. Discover how each therapist's journey is as unique as they are.
This episode’s guest is the fantastic Abigael Walton-Mowbray. It was wonderful to catch up with Abigael again because we trained together at the beginning of our play therapy journeys. Abigael and I talk about how she had to wait to begin her training, how she navigated lockdown and her vision for the future. We talk about how play is for everyone and her recommendation of an inspirational children’s song.
You can find Abigael at
changingleavesplaytherapy.co.uk (https://www.changingleavesplaytherapy.co.uk)
Her recommendations are below;
The Flying Child by Sophie Olson (https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-flying-child-a-cautionary-fairytale-for-adults/sophie-olson/patricia-walsh/9781915758057)
Let's Be Brave by Thomas and Friends (https://open.spotify.com/track/7INGtPgXZHeO0SskXHEuC8?si=a4d3074042e74143)
19 Jan 2026
Leone Ellis
Today’s guest is the wonderful Leone Ellis. We talk about bringing the outdoors into play therapy, running a community interest company and how Leone makes decisions about the type of work to take on.
A big thank you to Leone for talking with me for this episode. Check out the show notes below for more information on Leone’s work and links to her recommendations.
https://wildheartsservices.co.uk/about/ (https://wildheartsservices.co.uk/about/)
Wild Hearts YouTube (https://youtu.be/gYZkn2_2eiU?si=risF1yD93lfJRimq)
Alison Chown - Play Therapy in the Outdoors (https://www.hachette.co.uk/contributor/alison-chown/)
Hollow Coves - The Woods (https://open.spotify.com/album/2tRtLelIVhf4rrmyX4fi3T?si=vEQLx6udSlql7DxrlhAV9A)
12 Jan 2026
Hannah Cotton
This episode of Journey of a Therapist is with the lovely Hannah Cotton. Hannah and I talk about her journey from working as a teaching assistant to becoming a qualified play therapist after being inspired by seeing another play therapist in action. Hannah shares how she managed being self-employed while taking time out from work for her young family and how she is now a clinical supervisor with a flourishing private practice.
You can find Hannah at https://www.facebook.com/hcplaytherapy (https://www.facebook.com/hcplaytherapy)
Here are the links to Hannah's recommendations.
Why Love Matters - Sue Gerhardt (https://www.routledge.com/Why-Love-Matters-How-affection-shapes-a-babys-brain/Gerhardt/p/book/9780415870535?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=P7137229100_ECOMMC_UK_cross-network&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23117839905&gbraid=0AAAAACWuhHWUNwNwaHRbw9NZtax-LJ0-f&gclid=CjwKCAjw04HIBhB8EiwA8jGNbZzOET3L5Dv_C6AFlgDRVju0g8NU0DOwt-OysDyId-gkWzBO6AieYRoCyKAQAvD_BwE)
Proud - Heather Small (https://open.spotify.com/track/6mn15kWtqGdQtBYIx9L3Kc?si=f9d402d8ccc54c0b)
10 Sept 2025
Alice Dobby-Westwood
Hi, I’m Madeleine Powell and this is Journey of a Therapist. This episode’s guest is the fantastic Alice Dobby-Westwood. We talk about how starting out as a play therapist unlocked Alice’s confidence in learning new skills and now, as you will hear, she has many strings to her bow and intends to keep adding to them in the future. We talk about trees as a metaphor for therapists and I learned a new word, ‘deschooling’.
You can find Alice at:
https://www.insideoutpersonaltherapy.co.uk (https://www.insideoutpersonaltherapy.co.uk)
Links to Alice's recommendations:
Dibs in Search of Self - Virginia Axline (https://amzn.eu/d/bR5YJxs)
Destination Unknown - Marietta Waters (https://open.spotify.com/track/2joErlW4ikQCOYgG6xm8By?si=5a564e3526df466b)
10 Sept 2025
Vanessa Kroll
This episode of Journey of a Therapist is with the fabulous Vanessa Kroll. In a wide ranging conversation we talk about what inspired Vanessa to become a play therapist, how hanging on in the beginning has led to a full and varied working week and what has changed in her approach over the years. We recorded at home so there are some everyday sounds in the background, but no deliveries were missed so don’t worry!
You can find Vanessa at:
https://www.brightstartherapy.co.uk (https://www.brightstartherapy.co.uk)
Links to Vanessa's recommendations:
The Book You Wish Your Parents Read - Philippa Perry (https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/292159/the-book-you-wish-your-parents-had-read-and-your-children-will-be-glad-that-you-did-by-perry-philippa/9780241251027)
Why Can't My Child Behave - Dr Amber Elliot (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Cant-Child-Behave-Strategies/dp/1849053391)
Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship - Garry Landreth (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=gary+landreth+play+therapy&crid=MJWX6FODNUTP&sprefix=gary+landre%2Caps%2C129&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_11_mvt-t11-ranker)
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong (https://open.spotify.com/track/29U7stRjqHU6rMiS8BfaI9?si=27349848a2624d7c)
Earthquake: A teaspoon of light (https://youtu.be/jznOhFrSvJY?si=OOFsXNQ69_pTOmT-)
10 Sept 2025
Jody Manning
This episode of Journey of a Therapist is with the wonderful Jody Manning. We talk about Jody’s move from trainee to qualified therapist and how she has branched out, pun definitely intended, into nature based play therapy.
Jody can be found at
Jodymanningpt@gmail.com (mailto:Jodymanningpt@gmail.com)
Links to Jody's recommendations
Hey Jude - The Beatles (https://open.spotify.com/track/0aym2LBJBk9DAYuHHutrIl?si=6115a7dc308d4815)
All My Life - Lil Durk (https://open.spotify.com/track/54pJiUXGO0bzC7pbRvHBIr?si=6e75192808044f5a)
The Boy Who Was Raised As a Dog - Bruce Perry (https://www.bdperry.com/books)
10 Sept 2025
Connie Bedingfield-Lowe
Hi, I’m Madeleine Powell and this is Journey of a Therapist. I’ve been working as a play therapist for the last eight years and have often wondered what brings people to become a therapist. So I thought I would ask them! This episode is with the lovely Connie Bedingfield-Lowe. Connie and I talk about her career before play therapy and how that led to where she is now. She gives an insight into what her work looks like on a day to day level and we peek into her suitcase of kit that travels with her on her play therapy journey.
Connie can be found at :
www.mulberryplaytherapy.co.uk (http://www.mulberryplaytherapy.co.uk/)
@mulberry_play_therapy (https://instagram.com/mulberry_play_therapy)
The links to Connie's recommendations are below.
Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled (https://open.spotify.com/show/19BOekO4dSbutuHw29ipA1?si=9b86cefc37a041e2)
Can't Stop the Feeling from TROLLS soundtrack- Justin Timberlake (https://open.spotify.com/track/1WkMMavIMc4JZ8cfMmxHkI?si=539ef0c452d84325)
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