René Chorley

A Bit About René...

René Chorley was born in Southern Africa and grew up in Zimbabwe.  She has a BA Degree in Early Childhood Development and Education and has worked with children for 25 years. She has served as Principal of Dawncliffe  School (South Africa) and Director of Giant Steps Development Centre (USA), She spent 13 years in South Africa working with children who had been traumatized, lost their parents or been abandoned and here gained the empathy for children with poor early years experiences (Durban Boys home). She then moved to the USA and continued her work but specialized in working with ‘dysfunctional families’ and undertook further studies in child development and parental attachment.

René has delivered training on effects of abuse on children and the family relationships both in UK and USA. She had developed the Acorn Parenting Group pack for delivery of group sessions for parents whose children have been affected by domestic abuse. She started Theraplay® in 2007 and is now in the Practicum and receives supervision from the Theraplay® Institute in Chicago.

René delivers therapeutic services to children and parents who have experienced trauma and abuse for Cornwall Refuge Trust (CRT) for which she also manages all projects and operations. René founded Noah’s Ark Family Project in 2010. This project has delivered therapeutic work for Wandsworth Social Care, Somerset Children Services, Cornwall Child and Family Services as well as for families and community groups.