About Me

My name is  Antonia Farino.  I am an accredited play therapist and counsellor working with children, and adolescents and their families in Surrey and Sussex.

I started my career, 30 years ago, as a primary school teacher and in the last 10 years of my teaching career, I supported children and their families through running a specialist nurture group in a mainstream school. For the last 6 years I have helped children through individual and group play therapy sessions in mainstream and specialist schools. I am currently Head of Mental Health and Therapy at an SEMH independent specialist school that caters for KS1 through to KS4. I am also trained in talking therapy and therefore can use a blend of play, creative and talk based approaches in my sessions, responding to the needs and requirements of each child or young adult.

Whilst working in mainstream education I became aware of the increasing number of children struggling with overwhelming feelings that affected their behaviour and their ability to learn and thrive in school. I wanted to be able to do more to help them.

Through my work as a nurture group teacher l learned about attachment theory and the neuroscience of childhood development and the impact of trauma in the early years. I knew that I needed more than theoretical approaches, I wanted practical skills to really help these children not just be able to manage the resulting behaviours but to help them heal the emotional problems.

It was important to me to ensure whatever training I pursued was one that had a robust framework to protect the children I work with. This lead me to play therapy and post graduate level training that led to a qualification that meets Government’s regulations around mental health services.

I trained with Leeds Beckett University. I am trained with the Integrative Holistitic model of play therapy with the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy at post graduate diploma level. This is the only play therapy training validated through clinical outcomes.

I am on the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists that has been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. The Professional Standards Authority oversee the Health and Social Care regulators and are responsible to parliament. I am DBS checked, GDPR compliant and hold professional liability insurance. I adhere to the ethics and values of the profession and receive regular clinical supervision.

I am also a registered member of the BACP, The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. As well as a clinical supervisor, offering supervision to schools and other therapists.

I have always believed that play is a vital part of childhood and that growing up shouldn’t mean that we no longer need to play. Play can help us understand ourselves and others.   In play, children can experience a range of emotions without losing control and this helps them build an ability to self-regulate.  In play, children can be whoever they want to be, and this can help them develop a stronger sense of themselves in reality.  Play offers children and young people the opportunity to explore and rehearse for real life situations. They can learn to respect themselves, be responsible for their actions and learn that their feelings are acceptable.

I am committed to do my best to help children and young people feel happy and secure enough to enjoy their childhood and go on to lead fulfilling lives.

Qualifications

Professional Qualifications and Relevant Training

• B Ed in Education and Expressive Arts (Exeter University, 1992)

• Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy (Leeds Beckett University, 2019)

• Creative Counselling for Children and Young People (APAC, 2022)

• Certificate in Clinical Supervision (APAC, 2024)

• Solution Focused Counselling (BRIEF, 2019)

• TraumaPlay Foundational Training (Trauma Play Institute, 2023)

• Certificate in Nature Based Play Therapy (Children’s Therapy Centre, 2020)

• Heart-to-Heart Practitioner Training (Clear Sky Children’s Charity, 2021)

• Mindfulness, Teach PawsB (MISP, 2017)

• The Nurturing Programme ( Family Links, 2012)

• Certificate The Practice and Theory of Nurture Groups ( NurtureUK, 2011)

You can read about PTUK, the play therapy register, The Professional Standards Authority and the play therapy training I undertook on the links below:

PTUK

Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists

Professional Standards Authority

Play Therapy Training Programme