Ragdoll Associates

Sue Anderson

Sue Anderson qualified as a social worker in 1990. Since then she has been working with children and families for several different local authorities and agencies in safeguarding, looked after children, fostering and adoption teams.

Through her work supporting adoptive families, foster carers and family and friends carers, she has gained significant experience of children affected by trauma and loss; and of supporting parents and carers in their understanding both of how this impacts their child’s development and of the therapeutic parenting approach required to address the child’s underlying need. 

Sue is registered with Social Work England and is a member of Nagalro.

Julia Carrigan

Julia began working with children as a Nursery Nurse in the 1990’s at a Primary School in a socially deprived area of Milton Keynes. It was here that she first gained an appreciation of the benefits of providing one to one work to children who experience trauma and harm.

Julia qualified as a Social Worker in 1998 and has worked with children and families in this role for many years including child protection role, fostering and adoption.

Julia has completed training in Solution Focussed Therapy and gained a National Diploma in Therapeutic Life Story Work in 2018. She has worked with children and teenagers alongside their carers and parents to explore a young person’s life story which may include adversity, trauma and loss. Julia has been able to help young people and children have a greater depth of understanding of their history. Therapeutic Life Story Work can also be an aid to working with family’s who may be experiencing strains in their relationships.

Julia is Social Work England Registered Social Worker, member of Therapeutic Life Story Work International and a member of Nagalro

Michelle Snelus

Michelle is a qualified social worker registered with SW England. She has a Diploma in The Rose model of Therapeutic Life Story Work and is  a trained Play therapist registered with PTUK.

She has 33 years’ experience of working with children and families, and over 10 years’ experience for working with children and families with trauma and attachment difficulties.

Michelle started her career as a nursery nurse and qualified as a social worker in 2011. Since securing a role in adoption and adoption support, she has become increasingly interested in working with children who have experienced early life trauma and loss and the impact this has on the family and how best to support them.

She has continued to train in areas of Therapeutic Life Story Work and Play Therapy, to offer a range of therapeutic support to help children and families, also using these therapies to support Adopted Adults.

Michelle is fully insured with Nagalro.

With over 30 years of experience in social work practice and training, Becky brings a deep well of knowledge, compassion, and commitment to her practice. She began her career in residential settings with young people and has since worked across a variety of roles, including frontline social work and kinship care, gaining extensive insight into the lived experiences of families navigating complex systems.

Becky is a highly experienced and skilled trainer and is trained in a range of therapeutic and relational models including AMBIT (Adaptive Mentalization-Based Integrative Treatment), systemic practice, and motivational interviewing. Alongside her work with families, Becky is a strong advocate and facilitator of reflective practice. Her own practice is rooted in emotional resilience, the development of self, and the importance of clear personal and professional boundaries. 

Throughout her career, Becky has remained a passionate advocate for social justice and anti-oppressive practice, with a strong focus on equity and inclusion. She has worked to promote awareness of the needs and strengths of global majority communities, and is committed to challenging structural inequalities for all marginalised groups.

She approaches her work through a socially equitable lens, always seeking to empower individuals and communities.

Alison Redman

Alison brings over 25 years of experience working with children and families, beginning her career in day nurseries before moving into Children’s Social Care in 2002. Throughout her career, she has supported families who have faced multiple challenges, offering compassionate and informed care.

Alison holds qualifications in Early Years Childcare and Education, and a Diploma in Child Psychology. She is trained in DDP, Theraplay, Video Interaction Guidance (VIG), Care Index, and Sensory Attachment Intervention. Her work is also informed by her reliability in the Meaning of the Child Interview and Marschak Interaction Method (MIM).

With a strong focus on the parent-child relationship, Alison developed a specialised video-based intervention aimed at enhancing parental mentalisation, helping caregivers reflect on and respond to their child’s emotional needs more effectively. The use of PACE is integral to her intervention. Her approach empowers parents, giving them the tools and confidence to build stronger connections with their children. Her approach is grounded in deep clinical insight and a genuine commitment to helping families thrive.

Chris Dyos

Chris Dyos brings over a decade of experience in education, having worked across lower, middle, and primary school settings. She has a strong background in supporting children with additional needs, both in teaching and in leadership roles. As an experienced middle leader, Chris has led on key areas such as pupil premium, pastoral care, and student wellbeing.

Currently serving as a SENDCO in Bedfordshire, Chris is passionate about inclusive practice and ensuring that all children, regardless of their challenges, have access to the support they need to thrive. She holds a BA (Hons) in Applied Education Studies, Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), and has completed both the NPQML and NPQSL leadership qualifications. Recently, Chris also earned her NASENCO qualification, further strengthening her ability to support families and young pupils in navigating the educational landscape.

Chris is deeply committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment, helping children develop the confidence and resilience they need to succeed.

Dr Hannah Ford

Hannah qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 2007 and since then, she has specialised in offering psychological therapy and assessments for children and young people who are looked after, adopted or in kinship care. She has worked in a variety of settings, including CAMHS, Children’s Social Care and the voluntary sector and has previously been involved in increasing psychological support for children’s residential homes and for young people leaving care.

Alongside her direct work with children, Hannah understands the intense challenges that can be faced by those who care for and support these young people. She strongly believes in the importance of also providing support for parents, caregivers and the network around a young person, including their social workers, teachers and other professionals.

Hannah’s practice is rooted in attachment and trauma theory. She is an Intermediate Theraplay®  Practitioner, has additionally undertaken Group Theraplay®  training,  and has completed Level 1 and 2 of DDP training and is registered on the practicum. She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.