About Ian
Experience, compassion and a belief in the importance of play
I’m Ian Broady, an Accredited Play Therapist and Senior Certified Clinical Supervisor based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
I have spent more than 25 years working with children, young people and families in settings including schools, family centres, children’s centres and community services.
Throughout my work, I have seen how important it is for children to feel safe, accepted and understood. These experiences continue to shape the way I work today.
My journey into Play Therapy
I qualified as a Play Therapist in 2011 and have since provided Play Therapy for children across Gloucestershire, including within schools and therapeutic settings.
I was drawn to Play Therapy because children do not always have the words to explain difficult feelings and experiences. Play gives them another way to communicate, explore their world and begin to make sense of what is happening.
My work is child-centred, non-directive and relationship-based. I offer each child a consistent therapeutic space where they can express themselves in their own way and at their own pace.
Why I created The Spiral Tree
I created The Spiral Tree to bring together my work with children, families, schools and Play Therapy professionals.
At its heart is a belief that relationships matter.
Children need to experience acceptance and emotional safety. Parents and carers need space to feel listened to and supported. Professionals need opportunities to reflect openly on the work they carry.
The Spiral Tree provides a place where these relationships, individual needs and creative ways of working can remain central.
My approach
The way I work is:
Child-centred
The needs and experiences of each child remain at the centre of the therapeutic process.
Non-directive
Children are given the freedom to lead their Play Therapy sessions within clear and consistent therapeutic boundaries.
Relationship-based
A safe, accepting and dependable relationship provides the foundation for the work.
Creative
Play, sand, art, storytelling and other creative resources can help people communicate and reflect when words are difficult.
Reflective
I think carefully about each child’s needs, the therapeutic relationship and the wider systems surrounding the child.
Collaborative
When appropriate, I work alongside parents, carers, schools and other professionals to help create consistent support around the child.
Working with parents, carers and schools
Children are part of families, schools and wider communities. Working collaboratively with the important adults around a child can help create understanding and consistency.
I provide clear communication and regular reviews while maintaining appropriate therapeutic confidentiality.
I also work directly with schools across Gloucestershire, providing Play Therapy within education settings and supporting referrals, reviews, safeguarding arrangements and communication with families
[Play Therapy in Schools]
Clinical Supervision
Alongside my therapeutic work, I am a Senior Certified Clinical Supervisor.
I provide individual and small-group Clinical Supervision for trainee and qualified Play Therapists.
My supervision style is warm, creative and reflective. I aim to provide a space where practitioners can think openly about their work, explore relationships and difficult moments, and develop confidence in their professional practice.
I understand how rewarding and demanding therapeutic work can be. Supervision offers time to look after both the work and the practitioner carrying it.
Additional training and experience
My professional experience and training include:
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More than 25 years working with children, young people and families
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Practising as a Play Therapist since 2011
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Accredited Play Therapist
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Senior Certified Clinical Supervisor
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Filial Therapy training
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Certified AutPlay® Therapy Provider training
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Extensive experience providing Play Therapy within schools
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Experience supporting parents, carers and other professionals
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I undertake regular Clinical Supervision and ongoing professional development to support safe, ethical and reflective practice.
Filial Therapy
I have completed training in Filial Therapy, an approach that supports parents and carers to strengthen their relationship with their child through carefully selected play skills.
It can help parents better understand their child’s emotional communication while developing confidence, connection and consistency within the relationship.
Outside my work
I live in the Forest of Dean and feel fortunate to work within Gloucestershire’s local communities.
My approach is professional but personal. I want children, families and practitioners to experience The Spiral Tree as welcoming, respectful and easy to talk to.
