Heidi is a registered social worker, Intermediate Level Theraplay® practitioner and Certified Professional Practitioner of Animal Assisted Play Therapy (AAPT)®. She is based in Oxford, UK.
Heidi has worked with children, young people, parents and carers for over 30 years in the UK and abroad. She has worked across many children’s social care teams as well as in education, in residential settings, and in child rights advocacy. Heidi specialises in working with children in foster and residential care and their parents/carers, and in adoption. She is a provider of Theraplay services to a regional adoption agency where she enjoys supporting children and parents through activities which help build attachment.
Heidi is a firm believer in the power of the human-animal bond. She has volunteered at dog shelters and cared for and rehomed dogs through The Cinnamon Trust and Dogs Trust. Heidi and her family share their lives with an incredible standard poodle. Rolo is very friendly and gentle, and with a playful and inquisitive sparkle in his eyes he can’t wait for AAPT sessions! Fully approved for involvement in AAPT, Rolo accompanies Heidi in supporting children in community and educational settings. They often support children who are struggling in one way or another. Heidi works in a collaborative and non-judgmental way, which she finds key to building children’s self-worth. Some issues with Rolo’s health, which are being managed, mean that many children often also connect with Rolo on this level. Heidi and Rolo can work with individual children or in small groups. They also offer welfare support to university students.
Relationship is at the heart of all of Heidi’s work, and Rolo greatly contributes to this through his playful presence, his sense of humour, and his kind nature. Rolo’s favourite game is hide and seek in the tent, and he doesn’t mind what age his playmates are!
Heidi can be contacted at: heidikeme@hotmail.com
