Judy Nkechukwu is a Registered Dramatherapist, EMDR therapist, Counsellor, Clinical Supervisor and the Founder of Awakening Therapy and Development Services Ltd, based in the UK.

Judy has experience of working in the following sectors:

– Youth Offending Teams
– Education as a Head of Counselling Service in various schools as School Counsellor
– the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Sector providing Clinical Supervisions across Teams
– has delivered Dramatherapy in conjunction with the Child Service Agency in her parents’ birthplace of Jamaica, in the West Indies.

Judy has been in Private Practice, both in person and online where she uses EMDR, Dramatherapy and Psychological Counselling with private clients; as well as supporting Psychotherapists’, Counsellors, Keyworkers, Social Workers and other non – clinical staff working in the area of trauma.

Judy delivers Creative Facilitation to organisations and charities, implementing her Dramatherapy skills to work with complexities arising in groups such as team dynamics, understanding trauma and exploring Equality, Diversity and embracing intersectionalities. Judy specialises in mental health treatment for children and adults using a humanistic and creative approach. She was an actress in a theatre production written by Ekamem Hines called ‘So You Think I’m Crazy’ where she performed with a cast of actors across the UK in theatres and at the Annual International Congress of Psychiatrists’.

Judy has a Batchelor of Science Degree with Honours in Psychology and Counselling, a Masters degree in Dramatherapy,  a Diploma in Clinical Supervision,  Level 4 Advanced training in EMDR and is a PhD Candidate researching treating Trauma by incorporating EMDR and Dramatherapy.

Judy is the Company Director of Awakening Therapy and Development Services Ltd (www.therawake.co.uk) and her website has links to the Therawake Podcast,  which is available on Podbean and Spotify where you can find resources on Breathwork, Grief, Narcissistic behaviours, Clinical Supervision for teaching staff and professors, amongst other interesting topics.

Judy is the Co – Founder of the Black Dramatherapists’ Collectives (www.tbdc.org.uk), which is a community of trainee and qualified Dramatherapists’ to meet, learn, network and promote each other l, who identify as African, Caribbean, Black and/or living a Black experience in the UK as there has never been a space of safety for this growing group of Dramatherapists’.

Judy has a passion for treating trauma and breaking the generational cycles of repeated trauma.

‘….through the ashes we SOAR’.