Deborah is a DDP-Led Practitioner with an MA in Advanced Social Work. An experienced social worker with 25 years within Children’s Services, specialising in adoption and fostering, Deborah is dedicated to helping children and families rebuild relationships and trust through a therapeutic understanding of attachment. This passion is what powers Families Empowered.

Wendy is a DDP-Led Practitioner and a Therapeutic Social Worker and holds an MA (Hons) in Social Work. She is also a qualified Practice Educator. Her previous experience as a Social Work Manager and knowledge of child placement, health and safety, staff recruitment, training, supervision and support makes her invaluable as our Registered Manager. 

Liz became a DDP-Led Practitioner following almost 20 years in social work, where she specialised in safeguarding and managing the provision of care for looked after children. Her focus is always on keeping children safe and within their families wherever possible, and Liz believes DDP and Theraplay interventions can play a pivotal role. Following her work in DDP, Liz has extended her therapeutic specialism to become a Theraplay-Informed Practitioner in 2020.

Hilary is a DDP-Led Practitioner having worked previously as a therapeutic social worker. She holds an MA in Social Work and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Child Care. Hilary completed the accredited course Fostering Changes before she set up and managed a therapeutic fostering agency in Norfolk for over 6 years.

Anne is a DDP-Led Practitioner and a Psychodynamic Therapist. She holds an MA in Psychodynamic Counselling and is a registered member of the BACP. Anne works to support parents and carers responding to the individual needs of children who have experienced trauma and loss. Anne has previously worked as a therapeutic social worker in fostering. 

Sonya is a DDP-led Practitioner and a Therapeutic Social Worker with over 20 years experience working with foster carers and kinship carers in local authority and not-for-profit organisations. She believes strongly in the benefits of collaborative therapeutic support for children and families. Sonya holds a CQSW and BA in Social Work.

Jo has over 25 years' experience as a qualified social worker and manager where she specialised in adoption and fostering. She holds a BA Hons in Social Work and MA in Professional Practice. She has completed DDP Levels 1 and 2, Theraplay with MIM to intermediate level (currently undertaking her practicum towards Foundational Level), NVR Foundational level, Neuro Physiological Psychotherapy Level 1 and therapeutic Life Story Work. She is also an experienced trainer. Jo believes that parents and carers need to be supported to meet the needs of children impacted by developmental trauma and that relationship is central to all intervention.

Lucy is an experienced integrative counsellor who began her career in counselling in 2014. She has a broad knowledge of different therapeutic frameworks and works with young people and adults who have experienced anxiety, depression, bullying, relationship issues, trauma, loss and infertility. Lucy has a background working in bereavement, supporting families through the loss of their loved ones. Lucy is a registered member of the BACP.

Tara is our team administrator, with a background in care work. Enthusiastic, efficient and always happy to help – she keeps our therapeutic groups running smoothly.