About Lyn & Peter
Lyn Bennett
Throughout her long career as an occupational therapist, Lyn’s love has always been working with children and their families. Over the years, she has worked with countless children and particularly specialized in autism, epilepsy and abused children. As co-owner of Play for Real Therapy Services, she is excited to have the opportunity to shape and direct the therapeutic process in a way that is most beneficial to children and their caregivers.
In 2013, Lyn completed a five year training program to become a training leader and expert DIRFloortime practitioner. Lyn first read about DIRFloortime in 1997, and subsequently attended a workshop by Stanley Greenspan and Serena Wieder. She found the DIRFloortime approach meshed completely with her beliefs and work style. In addition to her clinical work, Lyn also teaches DIRFloortime to a wide range of professionals through the International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL).
Lyn trained as an occupational therapist in Oxford, England, graduating in 1978. Her experience of working at The Park Hospital for Children in Oxford, which incorporated both the medical and mental health aspects of therapy, was instrumental in shaping the rest of her career. She went on to train as a play therapist with the Institute of Dramatherapy in the UK and became a founder member and first chairperson of the British Association of Play Therapists in 1992. In 1994 she and her family moved to Florida. Since then Lyn has worked in a public school system, early intervention and in a hospital pediatric outpatient clinic.
When not working Lyn likes to spend time with her family. She is an avid knitter and reader. She enjoys walking and observing wildlife, and has recently discovered that she has a flair for photography.
Dr. Peter Bennett
Play for Real Therapy Services is the culmination of Peter’s long career as an occupational therapist, so he was very excited at the official launch of Play for Real Therapy Services in February 2013. He had been planning and preparing for this new venture since leaving his position as Resource Teacher for Occupational and Physical Therapy for Brevard Public Schools at the end of 2007 – a position he had served in since 1996.
In preparation for this new project, Peter completed a clinical doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in 2013. The main focus of his studies were both on the administration and management of, and the integration of evidence-based practice into, a small therapy practice. He is passionate about making Play for Real Therapy a high quality service using current evidence to help guide best practice.
In 2005, Peter became Certified in Sensory Integration by the University of Southern California and Western Psychological Services, having completed their Comprehensive Program in Sensory Integration. He is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), registered with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and licensed as an occupational therapist in Florida.
Back in 1981, Peter completed training as an occupational therapist in Oxford, England. He worked mostly in the mental health field until 1994 and, during this period, trained and became certified as a drama therapist in 1985. He went on to complete his master of arts in Drama Therapy at the University of Hertfordshire, England, in 1995. Peter moved to the US with his wife and two sons in 1994, and since then has worked in pediatrics and management.
In his spare time, Peter enjoys most forms of music and art, photography, watching good movies and anything computers.