Practitioner Reviews

“This training was a straight forward and hugely informative way to approach a topic that is so new to lots of practitioners. It truly covers everything you need to know including the theory behind the use of minecraft, the logistics of how to use it and how to apply it to best practise. This has truly opened my eyes to the possibilities of using minecraft to support clients and I look forward to continuing on learning. Highly recommend!”

“I thoroughly enjoyed part 1 and look forward to completing part 2, I have played Minecraft when I was younger, but this course has allowed me to see it from a whole new perspective”

“As a seasoned Minecrafter and fledgling Counsellor, I appreciated the opportunity to learn to combine my love of gaming and counselling. Even as a gamer I still found this very useful in regards to how to do Minecraft sessions safely and with the client at the centre of the experience.”

“Very clear videos demonstrating how things work.”

“This is a great introduction to Minecraft. As a complete beginner it was helpful to go at a pace that suited me. Ellie gently introduces you to all the aspects that you need to get started. There are helpful videos and visuals in addition to written instructions. It helps you to see the breadth of how you can use Minecraft Therapeutically. I am now looking forward to Level 2 and gaining in confidence in using Minecraft!”

“My biggest worry about the Minecraft platform for therapy was technical set and up safety for data / multiplayer. But all my questions were answered in great detail. Fantastic step by step training which allows to go your own pace.”

“Absolutely loved this course! I had some prior knowledge of Minecraft just from my own recreational use, and from what my clients had already taught me, but it has been such an invaluable tool. I know using gaming therapeutically is typically geared towards work with children but I fully plan on offering the exercises Ellie shared with us with my adults who are gamers, too. Planning to take the Level 2 course ASAP!”

“The training is great, it is well-resourced and will be very useful in my role as a school counsellor”

“The course was well laid out and presented very clearly. Very informative and the learning experience was very fun.”

“This training was comprehensive and essential for me to feel comfortable utilizing Minecraft with clients. I think it will add sooo much value to my practice. I cannot wait to get started with a few of my current clients, especially those that feel uncomfortable verbalizing their challenges.”

“This course has been such a support in the work I was already doing with clients in their gaming platforms / including their interests. Being able to learn about safety and confidentiality has been the most helpful aspects of the course and I have valued the ideas that can be implemented in to the work. Joining this course was not a regret and I can't wait to start using the content in my work more now! Thank you”

“I had never gone on Minecraft before hearing Ellie at BACP conference. I was looking for a way to reach a number of my clients who become very animated when talking about Minecraft but found it difficult to work with drawings etc in therapy. I feel I am at the beginning of something new and looking forward to creating therapeutic worlds.”

“Before I started training I had had no experience of using any gaming and was really nervous; however, in time and with Ellie's great patience and total expertise I was never left in limbo and help has been and is always on hand. I am seeing all the assets of using this as a fantastic tool to engage my clients and maintain a creative world in which to work as a dramatherapist. I am always mentioning it to other therapists and counsellors who work with young people and families. I always felt safe with Ellie and never felt unable to reach out and ask for help. I highly recommend this training to all therapists who work with young people.”

“This course is truly wonderful and is the most valuable tool to get started using Minecraft therapeutically! Having no prior experience before completing the Level 1 really does not put anyone on the back foot as the Level 1 training equips you with all of the skills you need to complete the level 2 training. Ellie is passionate, knowledgeable and creates a fun yet informative environment in the level 2 training. Doing the training in small groups is fantastic and the collaborative and interactive nature of the training is very beneficial. This training has really opened my eyes to the limitless world of using Minecraft therapeutically and I would recommend this to anyone working with young people! Thank you Ellie for being so generous in sharing your skills, time and resources :)”

“This training was especially meaningful for me because English is not my first language. With Ellie, we found a supportive way to make communication easier. Ellie was always encouraging and accepting, which helped me feel safe and confident throughout the training. Also, as someone who is new to this field, I learned so much not only from Ellie but also from the group. The shared experiences, feedback, and supportive atmosphere made this journey very valuable for my personal and professional growth. I'm truly grateful for this experience.”

“This has been some of the most creative, playful and fun training I have ever done as a therapist. Despite having no knowledge of Minecraft before I started the level 1 training I have come away with a hundred ideas of how we can use this with the young people and families we support.”

“As a total non gamer it has enabled me to enter a world where my younger clients may be better able to relate to both me and importantly, me to them. Seeing how they interact with and relate to other's. Especially if I was to use it alongside with families and carer's. I feel it will be invaluable as an online safe space to interact. I am already recommending this training to fellow therapists.”

“The Level 2 was a hugely helpful course. I came away feeling much more confident in using the controls and moving around the Minecraft world. I was able to apply my learning in real time and get instant help directly from Ellie whilst also learning from my peers. There was time to be reflective and think about how I will use the tools directly with the children and young people I work with and spending time with my team in this way was so beneficial. I have never had so much fun on a course before! We laughed a lot and I got to experience minecraft as a client, support worker and observer which taught me so much. I started the course feeling super nervous but have come away feeling confident and excited. This is down to Ellie's gentle and fun presence and not forgetting her patience! The pace is manageable and Ellie adapts in the moment to ensure you are comfortable and following along. There is ample opportunity for questions and the interactive and creative nature of the learning keeps you focused and involved from start to end. Thank you Ellie!”

“The training is perfect for anyone dipping their toe into using Minecraft as a way of connecting with clients regardless of their age. The course explains the basics of Minecraft and how it can be used therapeutically really well and gives great opportunities to practice using different tools and resources with supportive and patient trainers.”

“I see alot of benefits for this”

“I came to Ellie's training to better understand how to use Minecraft with my clients. The training covers different aspects of that and it is very useful. I am now more confident in using Minecraft with my clients.”

“Minecraft is a new way of doing therapy, it is a whole new world to explore and make the therapy more up to date with children.”

“Wonderful simple, but effective training that is both easy to navigate and clear how to apply in practise with children too. So helpful to have different options for the different Minecraft versions as well.”

“Ellie's training was amazing. I was a complete "noob" to Minecraft and I now feel comfortable navigating around and building structures using my inventory. Ellie has shown me how to use Minecraft therapeutically with my clients and I can't wait to get started!”

“It's wonderful and very practical training. The assessment was good too.”

“I have taken the free introduction training and was wanting to do the actual training. I play Minecraft with my children all the time, and have started to play with some of the students I work with. Watching them make a safe place has been incredible and has sparked some amazing conversations that we couldn't have had otherwise.”

“This is best CPD I have done this year and fun to engage with, which is not typical of CPD I usually complete! I have gone from having an idea about using Minecraft within my counselling practice to now being confident in how I might deliver it.”

“I was able to gain further expertise on navigating and safeguarding the game.”

“This training has been very useful for me and I am looking forward to working with clients and Minecraft. I have liked being able to access the training at my own pace and not all in one go.”

“As a complete Minecraft novice I found the visual and written instruction and guidance supported me throughout and I feel confident and ready for level 2.”

“I have found this training invaluable. I use play constantly in my work and have been wanting for some time to train to use Minecraft therapeutically. This course has blended together the practical as well as the therapeutic aspects of doing this. It has been invaluable and I feel much more confident in using Minecraft in my therapeutic work. Thank you!”

“Great introduction to Minecraft”

“Level 1 has given me the knowledge to be able to play Minecraft and given me a degree of confidence in using it as a therapeutic tool. It's great, in the fact you can go back and revisit modules within the Level 1 as and when needed, and a tool I think I will continuously use. It gave me ideas to use when working with children and young people and I feel excited about our new online delivery model, knowing we are using a platform that is super popular through a child's eyes.”

“This training helped me understand how Minecraft can be used in a supportive, therapeutic way, which is what I was hoping for. The activities gave a simple and practical introduction to the ideas, and they helped me picture how it might work in real sessions. Overall, it showed me the potential of using Minecraft in this kind of setting, and I think it's a helpful starting point for anyone interested in this area.”

“Really helpful and supportive training, gave me confidence to develop my skills and understanding in using minecraft therapeutically”

“This course was helpful in becoming accustomed to the Minecraft controls and settings. This training allowed me to practice in real time with others that could aid in my learning. The instructor was incredibly knowledgeable in the course material and how to incorporate these techniques into sessions with clients.”

“Very inspiring and although I already use Minecraft as a therapeutic tool, the course has deepened my practice and opened up other opportunities of working.”

“This course was highly enjoyable and engaging. I really enjoyed getting to learn (and play!) with other clinicians, and left feeling deeply inspired to grow my Minecraft therapy practice. Overall it was a well-organized and nurturing learning experience, and great fun as well.”

“It was very helpful and useful”

“Just three words: therapeutic, resourceful, and fun!”

“I really liked the course, it's a great alternative to support clients in their subjective expression”

“As always, Ellie's training doesn't disappoint, she is knowledgeably, empathetic, and thoughtful, helping to make the day invaluable in progressing my understanding of Minecraft as a therapeutic tool.”

“I sincerely thank Ellie for this brilliant training, as well as Helen and Rhys, my companions on this journey. Level 1 helped me start practicing with Minecraft and create “Wonderworld”, a hybrid online and offline Minecraft quest for Ukrainian refugee kids in Germany, which was a success for both children and parents. But Level 2 opened absolutely new horizons! We played all day (and had a lot of fun!), but at the end I was strongly inspired to start creating new worlds right away. Ellie put a lot of her practical experience and heart into it, and the questions from my colleagues were also very valuable and unique. I strongly recommend this training to anyone who wants to use games in their work with young people.”

“I would highly recommend this training. Along with my team we have completed L1 and now L2 training with Ellie and it has been so much fun if not a little scary! We had never played Minecraft or any other video games so it has been a huge learning curve for all of us. Ellie has been amazing in her support and guidance throughout the process. The information she has provided along with the well planned and though out training programme has enabled us to all learn a new skill, we will now embed Minecraft as a therapeutic tool into the way we work with children using this very current and child focused model. Thank you Ellie for your patience, you have been an inspiration.”

“This training was extremely useful and very helpful, Ellie is very kind and patient, with a great calmness, which was reassuring for me as I really struggle with 'tech things' and have never played/experienced anything like this before.”

“This training is engaging, informative and so much fun. I learned so much about minecraft and how to use it therapeutically. It has giving me such confidence in using it with client now and in the future. Thank you Ellie”

“The Level 2 Minecraft Training was the best training I have been on in recent years. Not only was it incredibly useful in helping me gain understanding and confidence in using Minecraft therapeutically but Ellie's approach put everyone at ease. She made the whole experience enjoyable and inclusive - regardless of people's level of experience in using Minecroaft. I would recommend this course to anyone wanting to expand their understaning and use of Minecraft in a therapeutic environment.”

“I joined the training as I wanted to better understand how Minecraft could be used in my work with children. I thoroughly enjoyed the training. Ellie knows how to put people at ease and how to bring a sense of community amongst the participants. The training is immersive, hands on, challenging and fun. I have learned a lot and hope to be able to apply it in my work.”

“I really enjoyed this course with Ellie; the pacing was perfect and so inclusive of all levels of experience with Minecraft. The activities were fun and engaging, and directly related to my therapy work with young people. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of working with young people in this way.”

“The training is great, looking forward to using it with my clients.”

“It turned a complete online gaming novice into a mildly confident user”

“I am very excited to be on this new adventure with Minecraft and being able to use it therapeutically with people of all ages and particularly children and young people. This training is a good place to make a start.”

“Absolutely amazing course. I had watched my sons playing minecraft for ages before i took this course and I always thought I would never grasp it but this course has enabled me to really get the basics which in turn has made me feel more confident about using it with clients.”

“This is very informative training, provides a very good base to start using minecraft.”

“Great job explaining the concept and using example session videos.”

“I started as a complete novice and had only ever watched my children play before. This training has now equipped me with a good knowledge and confidence to explore Minecraft as a suitable online intervention for children and young people”

“Really great training, will be so helpful in work with young people! I didn't have any experience of Minecraft before this training and have told so many of my colleagues about it since. Thanks Ellie”

“I think Ellie did a lot of great job with this course! I've found an important things about a client's safety, a technical part, and especially about a creative part there which already help me to create my own worlds in Minecraft.”

“This was a great course which clearly covered things to be aware of in terms of confidentiality, GDPR and technical aspects of hosting a session through Minecraft which was incredibly helpful. It was also fun thinking about different ways the game could be used in a therapeutic setting and was great for generating ideas.”

“I began playing Minecraft with my kids many years ago and it quickly became part of our home education journey. Already sold on the educational value, even then I could see the benefits of using Minecraft therapeutically. As I move towards starting private practice as a creative and expressive psychotherapist, I was excited to have come across Ellie's course and begin to understand how Minecraft can be integrated into my work. The course incorporated a helpful blend of experiential learning, videos and reading. I never felt overwhelmed and could take my time familiarising myself along the way. Elllie is clear and concise, warm and personable and the wealth of information presented, will be valuable for practically considering ethical, safe and creative applications for practice. I am very much looking forward to learning more in Level 2. Thank you Ellie.”

“Fantastic and valuable training. The training is thoughtful, well laid out and easy to access. It has pushed me out of my comfort zone in a supportive and encouraging way, and I cannot wait to use Minecraft in practice.”

“It was really useful grasping the basics and I learnt about making some customisations (seeds and biomes) which will be really useful for my clients that I support. It really helped me to navigate through the different versions and begin my own minecraft world. Really helpful, thank you very much!”

“Minecraft training has brought me an insight into the many possibilities of how Minecraft can be used as a great effective therapeutic tool. The training is great and is explained in detail in a good pace with many example therapeutic activities.”

“This training course is extremely helpful for people who are new and used to minecraft. For someone new to the game, this course will teach the basics and show you the potential minecraft has within a therapeutic space. This course, helped me build an understanding of how useful the game can serve to younger clients, as it creates a safe, visual, interactional space for the client to heal and learn about themselves.”

“I found Ellies delivery style put me at ease right away . I was totally on board with the therapeutic benefits but a little wobbly on the tech side of things . Doing a tech check with Ellie was reassuring and I felt no pressure to have it all in the bag yet . So looking forward to being led by the young people I will co explore Minecraft with and seeing the ways in which it expands the support we are able to offer .”

“Ellie is a knowledgeable trainer who puts "first timers" at ease and the course content is clear and easy to follow. Highly recommended!”

“Very informative training, which for a Minecraft newbie, was very useful. Step by step guided videos which were all explained clearly and Ellie”

“great help to navigate a complex system.”

“This training was excellent to understand considerations for using Minecraft in a therapeutic way. From safe guarding to technical issues it covered all areas in a clear and concise manner. Ellie covers so many areas and for all editions of Minecraft.”

“I think Ellie is wonderfully patient and attentive. The training is thorough and comprehensive. I was skeptical at first as to how children might respond but I think that this is a really great tool and the activities that Ellie have made are really well done to convert classic therapeutic tools into Minecraft. She also has gone above and beyond in transferring a couple of exercises that we created into Minecraft for us as well.”

“This course was helpful and great fun! I'm feeling much more prepared to jump into this work with my clients.”

“An excellent course. I felt very supported through out. The course is easy to follow and enjoyable. Certainly accessible for those with little or no knowledge of Minecraft.”

“The training was absolutely brilliant.”

“Ellie's training continues to open up 'the power of possibility' when using Minecraft as a therapeutic tool, enriching my clinical practice as well as offering my clients new ways of thinking and being.”

“The training was very well thought through and delivered with a genuinely warm and supportive tone that made it enjoyable as well as informative. Plenty of time for reflection and a real feeling of confidence gained by the end of the day. A world of possibilities became clear. Thank you Ellie.”

“This is my favourite counselling course I've ever done. I'm maybe slightly biased as I enjoy Minecraft outside of the therapy room, but the course was well paced and nicely balanced between in-game activities and group discussion and reflection. This balance not only made the day informative, but really helped to build a rapport with the other people in the group.Taking part in activities help us to see how it would feel for the client and being able to explore the various activity builds and how the traditional activities had been translated into Minecraft was invaluable, especially as they were tailored to how each member of the group works. Ellie is a pleasure to be taught by and her enthusiasm and knowledge of both the game and the therapeutic application of it shines through. It really was a pleasure to be on the course today and the tech check beforehand was incredibly helpful.”

“I was very excited to jump into a session of Minecraft and see how it could be used as a therapeutic tool and I was not disappointed. I am a Student and very new to the world of counselling, but that did not stop Ellie from making me feel right at home within the live training. She was excellent in explaining counselling concepts that I was unfamiliar with, which helped me understanding how to transfer them into the world of Minecraft. Seeing all the creations that Ellie had built, showed me how visual and explanatory Minecraft's creative mode and be. Which is great in analysing and understanding how a child might be internalising an issue. I found each activity fun and engaging to complete, even if I felt a little silly doing the roleplay (where I was roleplaying as a 7 year old haha)I still very much enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend Minecraft as a tool to utilise within your practices.”

“Ellie has such passion and enthusiasm which is contagious. She was able to meet the needs of the group and was really on point when reading the various ways in which individuals were learning . The children we will be working with were kept in mind throughout the training and there was a real sense of excitement about using the activities with young people in different ways .”

“I loved Ellie's Level 2 Minecraft training. Level 1 had gotten me excited and inspired but level 2 gave me the confidence and skills to actually do something about those emotions! Ellie was kind, personable, and patient throughout, getting to know me and my team and giving us breaks. The structure of the day was brilliant, you never felt rushed or that you were stuck on something for too long, and you got lots of time to rest and allow what you had learnt to sink in. There was so much practical learning involved which really helped considering I'd never played Minecraft before, it also made it really fun. Ellie had made activities for us to use in our sessions with children that were specific to our charity - it was such a thoughtful (not to mention super helpful) touch! This skill set Ellie has given me is going to completely transform the way I do sessions with young people online - it is so much more immersive than what I usually use (pens and paper over a screen) and it allows the clients to be the experts (most of the YP I have sessions with are experts in Minecraft). Thank you so much Ellie for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm.”

“I found the Level 2 course immersive and fun! Working with different levels of skill didn't matter, as we all helped each other and I think this is one of the best inactive courses I have been on and would happily carry out further levels! Ellie has worked incredibly hard to build the areas of therapeutic value and make them interactive and relevant to the world of therapy!”

“The course was very thorough and Ellie is a brilliant mentor. The training was a lot of fun, I learned a lot about how to use Minecraft as a tool for support. It was also a nice opportunity for group work with colleagues. Highly recommend.”

“As an adult who enjoyed playing Minecraft with my children and having used it as part of our home education journey, I already had an appreciation for the adaptability of the game. Ellie took this knowledge to a new dimension by sharing her vast knowledge of how Minecraft can be used therapeutically and psycho-educationally. The immersive and experiential nature of this course helped me develop first-hand experience of how Minecraft could be used for counselling and how therapeutic boundaries can be created and held within the online gaming sphere, providing the opportunity to experience Minecraft as both a therapist and a client. Ellie is a warm and knowledgeable communicator and educator. I highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to explore how Minecraft could be used within their counselling practice. By far the most enjoyable CPD I have done to date.”

“Ellie made this training so user friendly, you don't need to be a Minecraft Expert. She talks you through every step. Ellie really opened my mind to who can be done using Minecraft to explore topics with clients. You can see how passionate Ellie is about using Minecraft and the work she has put into creating this course. The River of Life is just wow! I haven't stopped telling people about it, especially those who work with children and young people who are grieving.”

“I started off not knowing how Minecraft could be integrated into my area of work, I thoroughly enjoyed the training, different theories incorporated into Minecraft, loved the interaction, creativity side, and being able to play as a team. It was surprisingly lots of fun. Thank you!!!”

“Absolutely loved this training. Has really motivated me in my practice and given me something else for my toolkit when working with clients. There were nerves in my team due to none of us believing we were 'gamers' but realised we don't need to be experts in Minecraft and Ellie gently guides you through it all.”

“I have changed from a complete gaming novice into someone who is planning to use Minecraft with one of my clients next week - quite a remarkable transformation which is entirely due to the excellent training which Ellie has provided. Thank you”

“The level 2 training is both fun and immersive and makes even a non gamer like myself realise that I can absolutely now use Minecraft as a therapy tool”

“Level 2 really helped to put level 1 into practice and build on this. Ellie was on hand to answer any questions. It was the most enjoyable trianing day I have attended in ages! The activities will be so helpful in practice, thank you Ellie!”

“Would recommend to anyone wanting an additional resource to help communicate and engage with young people and anyone who benefits from creative engagement.”

“Yes really helpful”

“I found this training to be very helpful. It provided a great foundation and covered many topics including the various editions, privacy, confidentiality, learning controls and how to use in sessions. This is a great intro into using Minecraft as a therapeutic tool.”

“It was a really interesting online training, good mixture of videos and reading, not boring at all!”

“Ellie's course clearly outlined step by step everything needed to understand the different ways to use mine craft therapeutically, how to manage the technology side of things and helped build confidence as the course went along. I would highly recommend this course.”

“Ellie was patient with us as novice minecraft users and made the course fun as well as being informative”

“I have really enjoyed the Minecraft training and i cant wait to use it with clients”

“I recently completed Ellie's Minecraft training for therapeutic use and found it very inspiring. I am not a gamer at all and my children have in the past tried to draw me into it, but I confess, I found it incredibly boring! I came to the training with some reservations as a result but Ellie managed to draw me into the world and open my eyes to it's value. I couldn't have imagined how it would work therapeutically, but it has the potential to work beautifully- as Ellie and her own work is a testament too. I love the idea of building virtual safe spaces, creating memory gardens, looking at feelings as characters, naming them, placing them, even battling them if needs be. The possibilities are endless and I now have enough knowledge to start off and bring a young person on a Minecraft journey. Ellie is a Minecraft genius and I would recommend her training to anyone- in fact I have already started to.”