Meet the team
Eileen Russell
I am founder and clinical director at WayMaker. As a play consultant, I am passionate about bringing play to both children and adults to achieve serious results. Trained in LEGO® Serious Play®, I combine my love for business and innovation with 20 years of experience. My work involves two worlds, helping families and professionals see challenges from new perspectives, pulling out the gold in every situation, and creating new solutions to complex problems.
Florence Walker
I am a wife and mother of two children and now the proud grandmother of four grandchildren. I have worked with preschool children since 1991, and I always felt that some children just needed a little something extra to help them develop to their full potential. I became so interested in healing trauma and other childhood issues through therapeutic play therapy that I started on my journey of becoming a fully qualified play therapist in 2017.
Tara Keys
I am the Project Coordinator at WayMaker, my role is to support the management of projects and the administration. I am a mother of two children and have seventeen years of experience working with children and youth. My heart is for children to know their worth, know they are important and know they are seen. I love fun, laughter and all things play. I have recently completed training on Rhythmic Movement and I am excited to bring baby massage to WayMaker soon alongside studying to become a Play Therapist.
Karen Lennox
I am a play therapist at WayMaker. I am a qualified teacher and have been working closely with children in primary, behavioural and secure facilities for over almost ten years across both Northern Ireland and England. I feel extremely blessed to have been serving as a trainee play therapist at Waymaker since April 2023. Through the use of therapeutic play, it is my desire to aid children in finding connection, resilience, hope and a greater sense of the identity for which they were created.
Mel McCracken
I'm an Art Psychotherapist with a background in social work and I have over 8 years of experience working with children and young people living in residential care. I fully believe in the healing power of art-making, through which clients are able to explore their inner world and express their thoughts, feelings and emotions. My heart is to provide a therapeutic space where young people can feel safe, nurtured and held; a space where there is no pressure to talk and where they are free to explore, play and experiment with the materials in whichever way they choose.
Leza Dunlop
Coming soon…
Dawn Ritchie
I am excited to have joined the WayMaker team as a trainee play therapist. I am a primary school teacher and have taught both nursery and primary classes for almost twenty years. I recognise the increasing pressures our children face and so have decided to embark on a new career as a play therapist. I believe in the healing power of play and I am very thankful to be surrounded by a wonderful team of people, enthusiastic to share their experience, knowledge and expertise to help me on my journey.
