Meet the Team
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Sarah Hampton
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR Psychotherapist
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Ashley Ellis-Smith
SOCIAL WORKER
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Emily Kelly
ADMINISTRATION MANAGER
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Michael Thorburn
COUNSELLOR & GAME THERAPIST
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ACS Therapy Assistants
Supporting our group programs
Sarah Hampton
Founder & Director of Affirming Care Services
Sarah Hampton is the Founding Director of Affirming Care Services and an experienced Psychotherapist specialising in neuroaffirming therapeutic support for neurodivergent children and young people. With qualifications in psychology, psychotherapy and education, and over fifteen years of experience specialising in neurodiversity across the UK, New Zealand and Australia, Sarah brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to her work.
Sarah is a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Specialist, supporting the development of emotional literacy, self-awareness, regulation and relational capacity. Her work integrates trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming practice with somatic and sensory-informed approaches, Internal Family Systems and therapeutic play. She delivers individual therapy, structured Programs of Support and professional training, while also partnering with schools to strengthen inclusive practice and whole-school wellbeing frameworks.
Ashley
Ellis-Smith
Social Worker at Affirming Care Services East
Ashley Ellis-Smith is a qualified Social Worker with over twenty years of experience working across community services, education and family systems. At Affirming Care Services, Ashley provides neuroaffirming, regulation-informed support with a strong focus on adults and parents navigating the complexities of raising and advocating for neurodivergent children.
Ashley brings particular expertise in supporting families of children with a Persistent Drive for Autonomy/Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile and in working with situations often described as "School Can't," where attendance, engagement or participation have broken down due to nervous system overload rather than defiance or refusal.
Ashley designed ACS's signature support model for supporting students at school the Neuroaffirming Care Plan (NCP), a structured framework used to support shared understanding of regulation profiles, early indicators of stress and responsive strategies across home and school settings.
Her work integrates systems thinking, demand-sensitive practice and relational safety. Ashley also brings lived experience of ADHD, informing her understanding of burnout, masking and the invisible cognitive load many neurodivergent adults carry.
Emily Kelly
Administration Manager at Affirming Care Services
If you’re an existing client, you will already know how important Emily is to ACS. With a background in psychology, Emily built her management career in State Government, equipping her to expertly support ACS with project management, human resources, systems improvement, and business administration.
As a trusted go-to person for resolving issues, offering guidance, and ensuring smooth operations, Emily is always seeking ways to add value, improve processes, and foster a supportive and empowering environment.
Michael Thorburn
Counsellor & Game Therapist at Affirming Care Services
Michael Thorburn is a former print tradesman, cartoonist, comic book publisher, and current counsellor, diversional therapist, and therapeutic game master who has built a reputation for being perceptive and for connecting with hard-to-reach participants through light humour, authenticity, and an easy-going manner.
Drawing on his storytelling experiences on the factory floor, as well as in print and in social games, he creates inclusive tabletop roleplaying and gaming experiences that build confidence, social connection, creativity, and wellbeing.
Michael calls himself a therapeutic storyteller. As he says, “I’m the happiest I’ve been in my working life, because I’m getting paid to be nice!”
At ACS, Michael runs game-based programs of support, such as Dungeons & Dragons, and Dragons of the Spectrum (DOTS).
ACS Therapy
Assistants
Supporting our interest based programs of interests
Our interest-based programs are supported by therapy assistants who work alongside our clinicians to create safe, engaging and meaningful group experiences for children and young people. These programs may include LEGO, Dungeons & Dragons, Dots, holiday programs and other activity-based supports designed around shared interests, connection and skill-building.
Affirming Care Services also provides a valuable training pathway for university students and emerging practitioners. Through on-site training, supervision and hands-on experience, therapy assistants have the opportunity to learn, grow their practice and develop a deeper understanding of neuroaffirming support.
This model allows more children to access group-based programs in a supported environment, while also helping build the next generation of thoughtful, relationship-focused practitioners. Our therapy assistants play an important role in supporting participation, connection, confidence and regulation within our programs, always under the guidance of experienced clinicians.