Dr. Paul Holmes, who died recently, was a Child and Adolescent psychiatrist, psychodramatist, author and a dear friend.

Paul was Family Futures’ supporter at our inception and an important part of what made us Family Futures! Paul was Family Futures’ first Child and Adolescent psychiatrist and remained in post for many years providing vital psychiatric assessments and recommendations for treatment.

Paul’s passion for helping children and adolescents, as well as the use of drama in therapy (psychodrama), was instrumental in the development of our service and the way we use the arts to help families heal. I was also lucky enough to co-work some therapy sessions with him and learnt so much about trusting the process, playfulness, humour and just not giving up even when things are tough!

Paul cared deeply about traumatised children and believed that therapy was based in ritual and creativity, with the family at the heart of it. Over the years his wise words were profoundly important to how we developed and I still use his thinking to inform me today.

Paul was so much more than a friend of Family Futures. Paul remained a dearly loved friend after his retirement and is someone I will miss hugely.

With love to Paul for his friendship and to all his family and friends at this sad time.

Jay Vaughan, CEO and co-founder of Family Futures