CATCH is powered by a unique community of contributors — clinical psychologists, therapists, education specialists, social workers, and most importantly experts by experience — adoptive parents, foster carers, special guardians and people who have been adopted or fostered themselves.
All these experts are working to promote trauma awareness. The shared goal is simple: to create practical, evidence-based resources that empower parents, carers and practitioners to help children heal, grow and thrive. Together, our contributors are helping to make CATCH a trusted source of guidance and support.
Click on the profiles below to find out more about some of our contributors and see their resources.
Mary van der Merwe, a parenting practitioner, is a dedicated neurodiversity advocate with experience in supporting and training individuals and professionals on autism and trauma.
Dr Lauren Topper is a clinical psychologist registered with the HCPC and Chartered through the BPS, and a certified DDP practitioner.
Michelle Masters has worked in education for 20 years and is currently the head of a special school for traumatised secondary school students.
Dr Natalie Briant is a clinical psychologist, and has spent over 25 years working with children who are care experienced and have moved into foster or adoptive families.
Professor Beth Neil is a professor of social work at the University of East Anglia. She has carried out a wide range of studies into adoption over the past 28 years, many with a focus on birth family contact.
Dr Georgina Hibbert is a clinical child psychologist, chartered by the British Psychological Society and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Dr Matt Woolgar is a consultant clinical psychologist at the National Adoption and Fostering Clinic at the Maudsley Hospital in London.
Dr Andrea Warman trained as a children’s social worker and later taught social policy and social work in universities.
Dr Julie Young’s particular areas of expertise are around contact with birth families, life story work and communication within families.
Catherine Hockley started the charity Create Hope in 2015, which offers emotional support to children, young people and families in Berkshire.
Donna Stevenson began as a nursery nurse and primary school teacher. Developing a passion for supporting learners with dyslexia, this led her work at the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) for many years.
Gill Tree founded Adoption Academy in 2014. After two years as a foster carer, Gill became a single adopter in 2011 to a highly challenging boy, causing everything to change.
Amy Thompson works at PACT as our education lead. She is an adoptive parent and also an experienced education professional.
Karima Moustafa, founder of Berkshire Against Racism, works with local schools, businesses, charities, police, and the council to educate them on issues surrounding racism.
Laura Asfour is an independent social worker within the voluntary sector. She has also worked as a children’s social worker and adoption social worker for local authorities.
Louise Michelle Bombèr is qualified as a specialist teacher, a therapist and a DDP certified practitioner.
Dr Naomi Graham is a children’s occupational therapist, and is the founder and CEO of Growing Hope.
Dr Eleanor McCartney works part-time as a medical advisor for adoption and fostering for a number of independent agencies and is also medical advisor to the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM).
