More about me | Little Bird House

More about Me!

Hi there, I'm Fiona Killick.

I'm an integrative psychotherapist specialising in working with children and young people and their families, based in Cornwall and West Berkshire.

I primarily support children and young people who are experiencing emotional pain following challenging or traumatic experiences such as ill health, stroke, brain injury, bereavement, attachment injury and school distress.

I am also a qualified primary teacher and was a lecturer and teacher educator at 2 leading Universities. I have a PG Dip in Higher Education Teaching and Learning and a BA(QTS) in English from St. Marys University, Strawberry Hill.

I completed my Masters in the Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing at The University of Wolverhampton, studied psychotherapy, counselling and dyadic developmental psychotherapy at The Human Givens Institute, Cornwall Counselling Institute, DDP and Heartwood College. I studied art, play and trauma informed therapy at The Institute for Arts In Therapy and Education, The Centre for Child Mental Health, Trauma Informed Schools UK, and at Great Ormand Street Children's Hospital, where I worked as a play specialist on the neurology, oncology and orthopaedic wards.

I have worked with a range of schools, community projects and charities supporting children, young people and adults with anxiety. I worked with the Stroke Association offering therapeutic support to stroke survivors, with a special interest in non-verbal therapeutic support for clients with aphasia. I currently work with Penhaligon's Friends, the children's bereavement charity and in my private practice, The Little Bird House.

I am a neuro-affirming practitioner, offering a compassionate, inclusive space which celebrates the strengths and individuality of each client.

I am ASSIST trained and an orange button holder, offering suicide first aid.

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My Story

After a career in education as a primary teacher, senior leader, lecturer and teacher educator at 2 leading Teacher Training Universities, I retrained in psychotherapy.

I have always been a creative educator, using art to support my students. I trained in play and art therapy at the start of my teaching career when working at Great Ormand Street Children's Hospital. Then at The Institute of Arts in Therapy and Education in therapeutic art and developed a passion of using creativity to support children to understand themselves and shine. As a hobby I trained in embroidery at the Royal School Of Needlework and love anything sparkly!

I love to travel and have been very fortunate to support and learn from some incredible children and young people around the world, who have lived through traumatic experiences including; AIDS orphans in Uganda, childhood soldiers in Tanzania, street children in India and gang survivors in the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica.

As an educator and parent, I have been an eye witness to the growing emotional pain in children and young people, and the impact on their families. I am a curious life long learner and have always studied to understand more and improve my practice. Through my career I have supported children therapeutically in my varying roles, it was during my time working in higher education that I decided to make the career shift and qualify as a psychotherapist. I completed my Masters in the Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing and diplomas in counselling and integrative psychotherapy. I am trained in psychological formulation, as a certified trauma therapist in the REWIND technique, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy PACE approach, art and play therapy for children and young people and bereavement therapy. I am also an advanced practitioner in group therapy for children, young people and adults. I completed my Masters research on the parental experience of EBSA, and am very interested in neuroscience, polyvagal theory and the mind and body connection and how these can support a child's emotional and physical healing.

I have worked therapeutically with schools and charities supporting children experiencing emotional pain after brain inflammation, PANS/PANDAS and bereavement, burn out, self-harm and child and adult survivors of stroke and brain injury. I am able to offer therapy to clients who are experiencing aphasia or verbal communication challenges.

Through my own journey as a parent of a child with complex medical needs and supporting children through my career, I have seen the challenges many parents face in advocating for and understanding their child's pain, anxiety and/or burn out.

I offer group therapy for parents supporting children with long term/chronic illness and EBSA. I also offer telephone support and Professional Letters of Recommendation, to help create a circle of support around the child. If the parent is feeling more confident in advocating for their child, the child's needs are more likely to be met which will in turn, aid their healing journey.

I provide continuous professional development through lectures and staff training for those working within the education system, to improve support and understanding of children and young people living with in pain because of their experiences.

I also offer creative therapy to stroke and brain injury survivors in care homes, whatever the age and stroke severity.

I feel honoured to support the courageous and brave children, young people and their families who share their lives and stories with me. Connecting with them, building trust and allowing them the space and empathy to be seen, heard and respected as they name, express and process their life stories, is the foundation of my practice. And a deep honour and privilege.