At Phoenix Learning and Care Group, we know that meaningful therapeutic support can help children and young people feel safe, understood and empowered to thrive. This year, we are proud to celebrate Sheina, an art therapist at Acorn School, who has been named our Therapist of the Year 2026 at the Phoenix HEART Awards.
Recognised for meaningful impact
The Therapist of the Year award recognises a Practitioner within Phoenix’s Integrated Therapies Team who demonstrates exceptional clinical practice, creativity and a measurable, positive impact across their setting.
Sheina was chosen for her compassionate, attuned and individualised approach, and for the difference she continues to make to Pupils, families and Team Members across Acorn School.
Building confidence, connection and belonging
Through art therapy and trusting therapeutic relationships, Sheina has helped Pupils develop greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, resilience and confidence. Pupils who were once reluctant to access support now actively seek out therapy sessions, reflecting the sense of safety, trust and connection she has created.
One particularly powerful example of her impact involved supporting a Pupil mentor to lead a school-wide wellbeing campaign. Together, they created a collaborative art project featuring every Pupil’s handprint, forming a tree that symbolised connection, belonging and collective strength.
The same Pupil later used co-regulation techniques independently to support another young person in distress — a powerful reflection of the confidence, empathy and lasting skills nurtured through Sheina’s guidance.
Embedding therapeutic practice across the school community
Sheina’s influence reaches far beyond individual therapy sessions. Through training, reflective practice, whole-school briefings and everyday support, she helps Team Members feel more confident in using practical strategies that promote emotional wellbeing and regulation.
She is also a valued source of support for families, offering insight and practical approaches that strengthen communication, understanding and wellbeing at home.
Her colleagues describe her as someone who builds deeply trusting relationships rooted in warmth, respect and genuine care.
“Children seek Sheina out not only because she helps them feel understood, but because she empowers them to understand themselves. Her dedication, creativity, expertise and compassion have had a transformative impact across every layer of our school community.”
By helping to create an environment where Pupils feel safe, valued and empowered, Sheina exemplifies Phoenix Learning and Care Group’s therapeutic approach and the importance of relationships, creativity and belonging in supporting young people to thrive.
Congratulations, Sheina — Phoenix Learning and Care Group’s Therapist of the Year 2026.