Meet The Team

Kelly Higgins

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Founder & Therapy Lead

My name is Kelly Higgins and I run Hands on Play Therapy. I hold an honours degree from The Open University in Childhood and Education as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy from Play Therapy UK and accredited by Leeds Beckett University.

I have furthered my skills by training in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, TraumaPlay Therapy, Sensory Attachment Intervention and have also qualified as a Child and Adolescent Trauma Therapist accredited by the International Association of Trauma Professionals. As well as training to become an accredited Positive Discipline Parent Educator. I am passionate about treating the whole child which lead me to train as an Emotion Focused Family Therapist. This particular treatment modality believes that where possible, caregivers are essential to the healing process of their loved one.

I am also an experienced Family Worker and have run group and individual interventions supporting vulnerable families for Bracknell Forest Borough Council. I hold a current DBS certificate and Professional Liability Insurance.

I have extensive experience supporting autistic children and young people, those with adhd, specific learning difficulties, anxiety, as well as those who have experienced trauma and those who have attachment difficulties. I also support Looked After and Adopted Children, as well as those in long term foster placements. I support families, individuals and professionals using an integrative approach and am passionate about supporting those I work with in becoming the best version of themselves.

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I offer training to fellow therapists, schools, local authorities and parents in a number of topics including trauma and attachment, Polyvagal Theory, and emotional regulation.

​My professional practice is enhanced by fortnightly clinical supervision and I adhere to the ethical framework of my professional body BACP of which I am a registered member.

​I am married with two daughters and have worked with children and adolescents for twenty years.

Guy Higgins

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Therapeutic Alternative Provision Lead

My name is Guy Higgins and I have worked in education for nearly 20 years delivering music workshops and mentoring children and young people within both mainstream and specialist settings.

Over the years I noticed that many pupils weren't enjoying the school experience and so I began to develop bespoke interventions to support those pupils.

I joined Hands on Play Therapy to continue developing and implementing programmes that weren't confined to a school setting. I love being outside in nature, especially water based activities which keeps me sane in an increasingly stressful world!

I have also written and recorded an album designed to help children who have emotional and behavioural needs. It targets children who are struggling in certain areas of their lives such as anger management, poor self-esteem, family break up, dysfunctional families, OCD, anxiety disorders, ASD, and ADHD; offering support to both the children and their families. This may be in the form of 1:1 mentoring or as part of a small group.

Playing music relaxes people, creates belonging, promotes team work without being competitive, gives focus, encourages, produces determination, leads to a healthier lifestyle and helps academic subjects.

Karen Herman

Therapeutic Support Worker

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My name is Karen Herman. I am a qualified teacher, and have been working in Education for thirty years.

I joined Hands On Play Therapy in April 2022 as a Therapeutic Support Worker, delivering one-to-one interventions that aren't confined to a school setting. My support involves using nature to help regulate, attending EHCP review meeting where I advocate for the families support, supporting children and young people to access the community, and teaching and encouraging life skills where needed- I am often found supporting young people with grocery shopping and cooking or baking.

I am enthusiastic and passionate about childrens' welfare. In this role I have been able to utilise my existing skills and experience to develop strong, trusting and caring relationships, which help to foster independence and increased self-confidence.

I love the outdoors, especially running and walking with my

two dogs.

Linda Lovegrove

Senco and AutPlay Practitioner 

My name is Linda Lovegrove and I have been teaching for 42 years. I was a classroom teacher for 7 years when I took a break to raise my children. After the birth of my second daughter, I returned to university to complete a course on teaching children with special needs. This was a passion of mine whilst working as a class teacher, possibly because I had a younger brother who had learning difficulties and in those days was labeled as ‘stupid’.

Once I had qualified as a special needs teacher, I spent a number of years in this role but returned to classroom teaching periodically so that I would not lose touch with mainstream education and the expectations of children in this setting.

I spent a number of years teaching in a large British International School in the Middle East where I was Head of Year One, moved on to head up the Special Educational Needs Department and then moved on to Deputy Principal responsible for Pastoral Care, SEN and EAL.

My SEN experience includes working with children with dyslexia, comprehension difficulties, speech and language difficulties, ADHD, ASD and Trauma. A lot of this work has been teaching children strategies on how to manage their emotions and self -regulate. I have also completed a certificate on ADHD with Kings College in London, a Post Grad certificate with Autism West Midlands and Worcester University and a Parenting After Trauma Course with Robyn Gobbel, (PCC Instructor, specializing in Complex Trauma and Attachment, with Interpersonal Neurobiology Programme).

Having had a brother with learning difficulties, and 2 grandchildren with ASD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Hypermobility Syndrome and ADHD, and another grandchild with trauma and attachment disorder and ADHD, I am passionate about supporting children and their families.

It has been very exciting to see how Hands On Play Therapy has grown and is reaching out successfully to a wide clientele with a variety of needs and I am very privileged to be part of this team.

Shafinaz Farook

Play Therapist, AutPlay Therapist

Hi, I’m Shafinaz, a Qualified Play and Creative Arts Therapist. I have worked with children for over 10 years in Primary School settings and have experience in providing therapy since 2019, more than 400 clinical hours. Special needs is an area close to my heart, but I have experience in working with children with an array of needs.

Play therapy found me while I was looking for support for my son, a moment where I felt helpless as a mother and could not explain what was wrong but really needed someone to help my child to feel happier, safer, and provide a sense of belonging.

Often, when children have behavioural issues, it is natural to be focused on the symptoms rather than explore the reasons. However, focusing on the symptoms does not support the child to overcome the real reasons behind the behaviour.

Once I was introduced to Play Therapy, I became curious about learning more about how this could help children heal and finally chose this as my career. Being a therapist, everyday feels like an honour when a child allows me into their world.

Watching children heal and families thrive is the greatest reward I get through my work.

I am also an AutPlay therapist, and Trauma informed therapist.

Laura Luzanycia

Integrative Psychotherapist

My name is Laura, and I am a qualified therapeutic Counsellor. I have experience working in educational settings supporting young people with their cause of distress, providing a safe, non-judgement space where individuals can explore their thoughts and feelings. This can be difficult for most people, and I adapt to meet the needs of the person, whether it be exploring concerns through creative means or to be outside of the room and be in nature.

Prior to becoming an associate at Hands on Play Therapy, I was the Head Coach at Oakwood Climbing Centre, where I had the privilege of working with so many young people and supporting them to accomplish their goals. Combining movement and talking therapy can be highly effective for those who feel they may need to regulate their nervous system and not feel confined to a traditional counselling room. Together, confidence grows and percolates throughout other aspects of life. This has been effective for individuals struggling with ADHD, refusing school, Autism, social anxiety, depression and low motivation.

Engaging in talking therapy can be a brave step to work through emotional distress or anxiety that individuals may be experiencing. I work in a relational approach that can focus on attachment, utilising different therapeutic modalities to provide a safe, empathic, non-judgemental approach to best support individuals, parents or their child’s needs.

A developing and trusting relationship allows me to explore unconscious processes that can impact thoughts and patterns of behaviour, bringing them into awareness so that the person is able to make a choice about how they interact with their world and those around them.

I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, DBS checked (2025) , First Aid Certificate and Safeguarding Certificate held.