Gemma Hookins M.A.


Co-Founder of The Play Therapy Centre (PTC)

Accredited Play Therapist

Certified Clinical Supervisor and,

PhD research student


Gemma Hookins is an accredited play therapist from the United Kingdom. 


Gemma has over 20 years’ experience working with children and young people, in a variety of settings in the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. Gemma holds a master’s degree in Practiced Based Play Therapy from Leeds Beckett University, United Kingdom, where she graduated in 2019, and awarded for her research on the effectiveness of play therapy with adolescents diagnosed with autism and intellectual disabilities. 


Gemma is currently enrolled on a postgraduate doctorate degree, researching the effectiveness of non-directive play therapy as a treatment for childhood anxiety disorder in the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, Gemma is a Certified Clinical Supervisor who supervises certificate and diploma therapeutic practitioner course trainees, qualified play therapists and other professionals.

Gemma’s background is in education, she has supported special needs children in schools, held roles in special needs schools as a teacher and taught within a class of Special needs and mainstream children, furthermore, she is a qualified EYFS (early years foundation stage) teacher. She has gained 7 years experience working as a play therapist at a Children’s Hospital in Dubai, UAE (United Arab Emirates), under the mental health centre of Excellence, where she provided play therapy within the hospital, and in the outpatient clinic.


Gemma contunues to advocate for children and young people's mental health with her research. Furthermore, she promotes awareness of mental health issues to the wider community, breaking the stigma, supporting families, and striving to help heal the young minds of today.


Qualifications

  • Master of Arts in Play Therapy, Leeds Beckett University U.K. (2019).
  • Post Graduate Diploma, Certified Play Therapist, Canterbury Christchurch University, U.K. (2010).
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play, Canterbury Christchurch University, United Kingdom (2008).
  • Diploma in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming, 2007).


       Other Trainings

  • Certified clinical supervisor of play and creative arts therapists (2023)
  • Certified Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2) in clinical reliability (2023).
  • Three-day Foundational TraumaPlay Certification Training Level 1 (UK, 2023).


Memberships 

  • Licensed Member with Play Therapy United Kingdom (PTUK)
  • Licenced Member with Play Therapy International (PTI).
  • Member of Association for Play Therapy (a4pt (U.S)).
  • Member of Middle East Psychological Association (MEPA)
  • Member of American Psychological Association (APA)
  • Member of the International consortium of Play Therapy Associations (IC-PTA)

 

Board Register

  • Registered with the Professional Standards Authority United Kingdom (PSA).


Publications

  • Co-Authored Book Chapter - Play in two different ways- A Reflection on Play Practice in the United Arab Emirates –– Book - Play in Hospitals, Real Life Perspectives (2023).
  • Published my first children’s story book about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Name of Book; Yousef’s Story (in English and Arabic (2023)).
  • Article: Using the power of play therapy to heal a frightened child, from darkness into the light November 2022.www.psychotherpay.net
  • Association of Play Therapy Magazine (APT) - Play Therapy around the world, Volume 17, Issue -March 2022. Article: Play Therapy in the United Arab Emirates. (pp.28-31).www.a4pt.org