In a world where play can be seen as frivolous or unnecessary, Julie and Philippa set out to explore its importance in our everyday lives.
Pondering play and therapy, both separately but also the inter-connectedness that play can in its own right be the very therapy we need.
Julie and Philippa have many years of experience playing, both in their extensive professional careers and their personal lives. They will share, ponder, and discuss their experiences along the way in the hope that this might invite others to join in playfulness.
Play is a serious part of Julie’s everyday life, personally and professionally. She works with children and families to build their relationships through playfulness and is particularly interested in when playing feels difficult. Life with two slightly bonkers cats teaches Julie that a playful approach is often best.
Philippa has been using play to engage with children, young people and families in her professional life for the last 30 years.
Personally she has a love of paddle boarding, which has been a recent addition to her life. She enjoys reading, movies, socialising and walking.
Play has always been an important part of her life from sport at school and playing in the local fields to playing games like cards, rummikub and word games.
Hilary Kennedy is a leading developer of Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) in
the UK, an educational psychologist and an Honorary Research associate at
University College London. She is currently a freelance VIG trainer
with many VIG trainings and has worked with Blackpool Better Start for
the last 5 years. She is developing VIG new training methods and is involved
in international VIG developments in Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Italy,
Turkey, Tanzania, Ecuador and Mexico.
She has co-edited two books on VIG with Miriam Landor and Liz Todd. Video
Interaction Guidance: A Relationship-Based Intervention to Promote
Attunement, Empathy and Well being in 2011 and Video Enhanced Reflective
Practice (VERP: Professional Development through attuned interaction) in
2015. She writes many articles and has contributed chapters to 3 recent
books on Innovative Research in Infant Wellbeing, Family Justice and
Neglect.
Venny, who has many children including birth children, step children and looked after children, loads of grandchildren so kept very busy. With her husband Bryan she has been foster carers for about 13 years now, through nurture and attachment, it helps us bond with them, understand them, and have the patience of a saint dealing with muddles and tricky times, as they have a great understanding of the impact that early life adversity and trauma can play.
Venny says 'Play is a massive part of our lives, and has helped us through some tricky situations.'