PlayMode Academy is a non-profit social venture founded by Ellie Finch to make therapy and support services more accessible – especially for children and young people who may face barriers in accessing traditional forms of support.

We equip professionals in mental health, health, education, social care, and family support services with the confidence, understanding, and practical skills to use creative digital tools like Minecraft and digital sandtrays in meaningful, ethical, and engaging ways. Our training is rooted in lived experience, practitioner expertise, and a commitment to building more inclusive and accessible forms of support.

Many first discovered our creative digital tool trainings through Ellie Finch’s counselling website, EllieFinch.co.uk. But as the work grew – including partnerships, growing impact, and evidence-informed practice – it needed a dedicated home. That’s why PlayMode Academy was created: to bring together a vibrant community of practitioners exploring playful, inclusive, and digitally confident ways of working.

Our flagship training programme, Using Minecraft as a Therapeutic Tool, has reached professionals across the world – from therapists and counsellors to youth workers, educators, and hospice teams – including those at Children Heard and Seen, KEMP Hospice, Primrose Hospice, HealGame Ukraine, and the Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County. We’ve supported practitioners to launch therapeutic Minecraft groups, engage isolated children in one-to-one therapy, and create new pathways for communication and emotional support.

We also offer talks and workshops for parents and carers, helping them better understand their child’s digital world and explore the therapeutic potential of creative digital play.

Whether you're a practitioner, parent, or someone curious about the potential of creative digital tools, PlayMode Academy is here to support your learning, build your confidence, and help you work in creative and inclusive ways.

Find out more: https://playmodeacademy.org/

Sandtray Therapy Room in Minecraft - Free Demo Event