Idea
Ellie Finch provides the gold standard in training on the use of video games, such as Minecraft, in therapy so that vulnerable children receive high quality therapy.
Ellie Finch has been working therapeutically using video games since the first lockdown in 2020. Seeing there was lots of interest in this way of working among colleagues, she gave a webinar about her work. Over 550 professionals registered for this webinar, demonstrating the interest that exists in this innovative way of working therapeutically with children. Since then, she has been providing consultancy and training to professionals seeking to use video games therapeutically.
People
Ellie is a child and parent counsellor (registered with BACP and ACTO) and a social worker (registered with Social Work England). She wrote her MA thesis in 2011 on engaging children in online mental health services. She has a BA (Hons) from the University of Cambridge, an MA in Social Work from the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and University of East London (UEL) and a PGDip in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy (UEL). Settings she has worked in include the NHS (CAMHS), social care, charities and schools.
Impact
By providing gold standard training on how to use video games therapeutically, safely and effectively, their mission is to make high quality therapy using video games available to vulnerable children who would otherwise not have engaged in therapy due to the stigma that surrounds therapy and mental health issues. By meeting children in their comfort zone (a video game they already know and love) therapists are reaching children that have previously been hard to engage and are providing them with the optimum space in which to freely express their emotions and safely explore the challenges they are facing in the outside world.
Lead entrepreneur
Ellie Finch
Get in touch
Ellie is interested in connecting with practitioners, organisations, researchers, schools and parents who are interested in the work she is doing. She also welcomes opportunities for media coverage and speaking engagements.
elliefinch.co.uk
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