Celebrating Our Latest Level 2 Cohort - Fireworks and All

NewsMinecraft

14 Jul

Written By Ellie Finch

A Minecraft scene at night with a large fireworks display of yellow and white stars filling the sky, a group of people watching from a platform, and a luminous moon on the horizon.

A group of Minecraft characters in various armor, including diamond and dark armor, stand together in a blocky landscape.

A Minecraft character with a pickaxe stands in front of a large blue structure of a figure with various signs and items, while another character floats in the background over a scenic landscape.

A group of Minecraft characters in a pixelated forest setting, with the text "Dream Team x" on a wooden sign below them. A person in a white shirt with red and yellow stripes is visible on the right.

We’re celebrating our most recent Using Minecraft as a Therapeutic Tool: Level 2 cohort, who finished their training this July - fireworks and all! Practitioners spent the sessions building skills and confidence in using Minecraft as a therapeutic tool with the children and young people they work with.
Here's what some of this cohort had to say:

"The 'Using Minecraft as a Therapeutic Tool' has set off so many fireworks in my life... professionally within my work as a therapist and personally in my reflections and processing of how valuable gaming therapy can be. I would recommend this course to any practitioner looking to work with any individuals in a fun, creative and expressive way."

"Ellie Finch has put together a really great training that has enabled me to improve and deepen the quality of the telehealth therapy I can provide to children across my region... I know I'll be following PlayMode Academy for years to come to continue my learning."

Level 2 is now certified by the CPD Certification Service. We've also just released our latest impact survey report, showing the difference this training is making to children's lives. You can find it on the impact page of the PlayMode Academy website.

The next Level 2 cohort runs 14th and 21st September. Full dates for the upcoming academic year can be viewed here.

Ellie Finch

Ellie Finch, MA MBACP (Accred), is a clinical supervisor, counsellor, and social worker specialising in support for neurodivergent clients and families of children with additional needs or complex conditions.

Ellie is known for her innovative use of creative digital tools and videogames like Minecraft in therapy to create accessible, engaging support. She is founder of PlayMode Academy, a non-profit social venture that trains professionals in the therapeutic use of creative digital tools.

PlayMode® Academy is part of Ellie Finch Counselling, Consultancy and Training Ltd, a non-profit company limited by guarantee.

Ellie is also part of the University of Cambridge research team behind Bridging the ChASM: Creating Accessible Services using Minecraft - a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) that explores the therapeutic potential of videogames and how they can be used to create more inclusive mental health support.

NOT AN OFFICIAL MINECRAFT SERVICE. NOT APPROVED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH MOJANG OR MICROSOFT

https://www.playmodeacademy.org

Celebrating Our Latest Level 2 Cohort - Fireworks and All

May-June 2026 Newsletter