About Virginia

Virginia Ryan, PhD, is a Chartered Child and Adolescent Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a qualified Play Therapist and Play Therapy Supervisor with the British Association of Play Therapists.  She follows both professional societies’ ethical guidelines in all her work.  Virginia also is a Certified Filial Therapist, Supervisor and Instructor with the Family Enhancement and Play Therapy Center, Boiling Springs, PA, USA.   Virginia’s original training was completed in the US, at the University of Minnesota (BA, summa cum laude, Psychology) and at the University of Texas at Austin (PhD, Educational Psychology) before she moved to the UK--with a second home in Ireland--over thirty years ago.  She has strong interest in developing and supporting play therapy and filial therapy in the UK and worldwide.

Virginia is the former director of the University of York’s Master’s programme in Non-directive Play Therapy and a former Senior Lecturer.  She publishes books and journal articles, and gives international and national training, conference papers and addresses on play therapy, filial therapy and child abuse and neglect. 

Virginia’s part time clinical practice is Ryan Children’s Services in Hull, East Yorkshire, UK.  She brings her long standing experience in the UK as a therapist and Expert Witness for the Courts in child and family proceedings to a wide range of difficulties, including statutory work, attachment-related problems, trauma, developmental delays and disabilities.