JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 130

Play
therapist
Helen Thompson, 43, is a play
therapist at a special needs
school in Cambridgeshire
and freelances at a
mainstream primary school

I was a bit lost at school - I opted
for a BTEC in hotel and catering
management, but soon realised
the hours weren't for me. So my
first real job, as a one-to-one
support at a school for children
with cerebral palsy, couldn't
have been more different!
I've never been afraid of
children with special needs
- my nephew is autistic. I worked
as a teaching assistant for four
years at two different special
schools before getting my current
job. I met so many fascinating
characters and loved the fact I
could give them my time. But
I needed a new direction and

it came in the form of an artsbased course, Skills & Theory for
Counselling Young People, run
by Play Therapy UK. It sparked
my interest in this career, so
when an opportunity to train as a
play therapist came up, I jumped
at the chance. Work agreed to
pay half of the £6,000 fee.
I loved the premise of using play
and creative arts with children
who were struggling emotionally,
to give them strategies to help
them cope with their difficulties.
The training was extensive and
a long slog, with residential
weekends, assignment after
assignment, as well as the



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018

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https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/JobsandCareersAutumn2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/YourBusinessWithJamesCaan2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/Careers/Careers_with_Hayley_Taylor_2011
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