The Family Place

15/06/2026

One of our Clinical Psychologists, Dr Josie Hewitt, has recently delivered a Parenting with PACE training for new and prospective adoptive parents through St David's Adoption Service.

It was a pleasure to meet this delightful group of new and prospective parents to help them think about therapeutic approaches to parenting the children they are due to welcome into their families.

What a privilege to be part of these earliest days of parenthood filled with hope and possibilities 🌱 We thoroughly enjoy our work with St David's Adoption Service and the parents and carers they support 🤲

12/06/2026

✨ We are running a Sensory Regulation workshop on Thursday 25th June, 10am–12pm, funded by The Family Place Foundation.

This online session for parents and carers explores the development of children’s sensory regulation and sensorimotor systems: what happens when a child experiences early developmental trauma and what you can do to help.

📧 Places are limited, so please contact [email protected] if you are interested!

03/06/2026

We're really proud that our CEO Viv Norris featured on the most recent Pondering play and therapy podcast, joining Julie for a thoughtful conversation about trauma, transitions and the importance of children feeling safe and secure in relationships.

You can listen using the link below, the episode is also available to watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/i36NP9thI6Q?si=Bcud1in8szW8zwbN

Some children don’t just need a home, they need help feeling safe in relationships.

In this deeply thoughtful conversation, Julie is joined by Dr Vivien Norris to explore adoption, attachment, trauma, transition, and what children truly need to heal.

Together they discuss:
✨ why transitions can feel like loss
✨ the impact of repeated moves and broken trust
✨ why behaviour often masks fear and overwhelm
✨ how connection and safety come before therapy can truly begin

This is a powerful episode for adoptive parents, foster carers, kinship carers, therapists, educators, and anyone supporting children impacted by early trauma.

🎧 New episode of Pondering Play and Therapy out now with Viv Norris.
https://linktr.ee/ponderingplay

24/04/2026

We were delighted to host the first of three Theraplay® UK Development and Supervision days this week in Droitwich, led by our CEO, Dr Vivien Norris.

It was an excellent day spent with an enthusiastic and highly skilled group of practitioners. Together, we observed a Theraplay supervision session, shared broad discussions and revisited many Theraplay activities.

All fed back how wonderful it was to be together in person!

08/04/2026

This year, we’re offering a range of training and workshops designed to support both professionals and parents and carers for children and young people. From Theraplay® courses, DDP training and By Your Side training, to practical workshops on managing aggression and withdrawal, our training provides tools, strategies and reflective learning to help you strengthen your practice and support the children in your care.

Spaces are limited, so for a full list of the training and workshops available for the rest of 2026, please visit our website:

We provide a wide range of accredited training courses and workshops for professionals and for parents and carers. We can...Read more about Training and Workshops

02/04/2026

We want to wish everyone a restful bank holiday weekend 🌸

However you're spending it, we hope you get some time to recharge and maybe enjoy some chocolate too 🐣🍫

Best wishes from everyone at The Family Place

27/03/2026

Our CEO, Viv Norris, returned to Barry last week to complete the delivery of DDP Level 1 Training for Vale of Glamorgan Council, following our successful delivery of By Your Side training last year.

Great to continue building relationships and make new connections! ✨

25/03/2026

Last week, our Clinical Director Emily Barnbrook had the pleasure of introducing PACE (the therapeutic model developed by Dan Hughes, not the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, as was briefly confused in the session 😄) to the West Mercia Health and Justice team during their away day.

It was great to meet the team and provide an overview of the model, with some time to consider how it might apply in their day to day roles.

Thank you so much for having us!

19/03/2026

✨ Theraplay® In-Person Supervision & Development Day
📅 21st April 2026, 10am-4pm
📍 Droitwich

We are running a development day for practitioners who are delivering Theraplay® interventions. The day will consist of a combination of supervision of Theraplay® sessions, discussion of themes relevant to the group and review of Theraplay® activities.

Who is the day for?
Any practitioner who has already undertaken Theraplay® level one or Group Theraplay® or above and is delivering Theraplay® based interventions. The aim is for a focused and interactive day to deepen your Theraplay® practice. It is suitable for beginners and experienced Theraplay® practitioners and supervisors alike.

For more information and to book your place, visit:

Workshop Overview This is a development day for practitioners who are delivering Theraplay® interventions. The day will consist of a...Read more about Theraplay® In-Person Supervision & Development Day

18/03/2026

Last week our CEO, Viv Norris, delivered DDP Level 1 to a fantastic group in Clyro. A great reminder of everything that in person training has to offer! We're hoping to reconnect with some of the group again for DDP Level 2 in November ✨