Our current team

NORMA PATTERSON

Director / Senior Therapist

SPECIALIST AREAS

Trauma, Suicide, Self Harm, Schools Counselling, Play Therapy, Reconcilliation,

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

In 1981 Norma Graduated from Queens University, Belfast with a First Class Honours Degree in Psychology.

She then went on to complete a diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy, a Diploma in Person Centred Counselling and a Certificate in Therapeutic Play Studies. 

She is currently completing her Diploma in Play Therapy.

WORK HISTORY

Norma has worked in the field of Reconcilliation work in Northern Ireland since 1981 where she supported Community and Voluntary groups and Local Councils to develop reconcilliation programmes throughout the region. 

She has facilitated group work and training in conflict transformation for the last 20 years, delivering the advanced group work skills and conflict managment programme to teachers, youth leaders, social workers, community workers and politicians.

She has worked extensively with voluntary organisations supporting victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland conflict providing professional development services and assisting them with their growth and development. 

She was instrumental in establishing a professional networking group which supported these groups development called "Breaking the Silence" which went on to become the "Trauma Recovery Network".

In more recent years she became a Director of Contact (formerly Contact Youth Counselling Services.)

Where she developed the organisation from a small community based counselling service for adolescents to a regional counselling service delivering counselling throughout the region 24/7. 

During her time with Contact they developed the CHILL drugs and alcohol specialist counselling service, Regional Post Primary Counselling Service in Schools, Community Based Counselling Services, Creative Arts Therapy Trauma Team and the Lifeline Crisis Telephone Counselling Service. 

After 12 years as a Director with Contact, Norma now has establish 'All Play Therapies', bringing play therapy to commiunities and individuals throughout NI.

Norma works with an association of other professional Play Therapists throughout NI including 'Play Therapy NI' and on occasions depending on work load therapists will offer their services to each other.