Our Anam Cara

Dr Suzanne Zeedyk is a research scientist fascinated by babies’ innate capacity to connect.  Since 1993, she has been based at the University of Dundee, Scotland, within the School of Psychology (where she now holds the post of Honorary Fellow).  Her academic career began in the USA, where she completed her PhD at Yale University.

In 2011, Suzanne stepped away from a full-time academic post in order to establish an independent training enterprise.  Its aim is to help the public understand all that science has discovered about the importance of emotional connection for human health and happiness.   More than 150,000 people will now have now attended her speaking events, and many more engage with her via social media, podcasts or media contributions.  The two words that come up repeatedly in feedback, from those attending one of Suzanne’s training sessions, are “inspirational” and “thought-provoking”.

In 2014, Suzanne broadened her public reach even further by founding the organization connected baby.  She and her team work to help parents and professionals make practical use of the science of connection.  You can find out more by visiting the connected baby website.  Relationships matter – as much for human brains as for human hearts.

Suzanne works throughout the UK and beyond with organisations keen to think more deeply about fostering connection, compassion and resilience.  Her core aspiration continues to be strengthening awareness of the decisions we take about caring for our children — because those choices are integrally connected to our vision for the kind of society we wish to build.

Darcia Narvaez is a Professor of Psychology Emerita at the University of Notre Dame. She is the co-founder of the public and professional educational outreach project the Evolved Nest Initiative whose nonprofit mission is to share her science research into developing appropriate baselines for lifelong human wellness and providing guidelines for fostering full human potential. This wellbeing baseline is imperative at this time as the United States ranks 40th out of 40 developed countries in public policies that support families. (See the UNICEF Report.)

The Evolved Nest – Darcia Narvaez, Darcia Narvaez, Nonprofit, Niche

Christine Forner, B.A., B.S.W., M.S.W., R.S.W., is a seasoned clinician with over 35 years of experience supporting individuals affected by coercive control, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and chronic neglect. She specializes in traumatic dissociation, developmental trauma, and the neurobiology of mindfulness.

Christine holds degrees in both Women’s Studies and Social Work and is formally trained in EMDR, Havening, and certified in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.

Christine is internationally recognized as a thought leader in the intersection of dissociation and mindfulness, and her work uniquely illuminates the role of patriarchy and misogyny in the genesis of trauma, dissociation, and psychopathy. She is the originator of foundational concepts including Securefulness, Primal Isolation Anguish, and Renurturing Syndrome, reframing nurturing not as a sentimental notion, but as a biologically essential force that organizes safety, regulation, and human health.

In 2019, she served as President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD). She teaches clinicians around the world and is the author of Dissociation, Mindfulness, and Creative Meditations: Trauma-Informed Practices to Facilitate Growth (Routledge, 2017).

Her upcoming book, The Birthplace of Psychopathy: What the Absence of Nurturing Does to Homo Sapiens, redefines how we understand harm, healing, and human evolution.

When she’s not writing or teaching, Christine trains for half and full-distance triathlons—because grit and endurance come naturally to her.

Charlotte Davies BA Hons, NPQH, FRSA, Tomatis Sound Consultant

Director of Fit 2 Learn CIC

Charlotte is a social entrepreneur and an experienced senior teacher. For the last 12 years she has run Fit 2 Learn CIC, a small international social enterprise, that seeks to show individuals and organisations how people of all ages can use non-invasive therapies in order to behave calmly and learn efficiently at the highest level.

Fit 2 Learn CIC is a disruptive social enterprise in that it is agile, works across many disciplines and seeks to empower people with the skills to manage their own physiology for life, not to be dependent on coping strategies and medication. Fit 2 Learn is actively supporting projects outside the UK in Italy and China.

Charlotte developed her interest in this area when she realised that her own son at 6 years old was effectively blind and losing motor skills. She realised that her son had been blinded by her local hospital’s treatment of his lazy eye, so she set off to sort out the mess. By the time he was 8 years old his vision and motor skills were working well. By 17 years old he left school with exceptional exam results and chose to study at an elite French university. He is now 26 years old and continues to be highly skilled in all areas of his development.

Fit 2 Learn | Unlock Your Potential Today

With more than 30 years of early years leadership, Dr. Dan Wuori is the Founder and President of Early Childhood Policy Solutions, a bipartisan public policy consultancy focused on the needs of young children, their families, and the early years professionals who serve them. He serves concurrently as a Strategic Advisor on Early Childhood to the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation. In both roles – and in his prior position as the founding Director of Early Childhood at The Hunt Institute in Cary, North Carolina – Dr. Wuori works alongside governors and state legislators to improve early years policy across the United States. 

But to parents the world over, Dan is known not for his policy work, but for his innovative use of social media to educate about infants and toddlers – with more than 300,000 followers tuning in to his daily video child development lessons across platforms. This work was recently profiled in The New York Times, which called his X (Twitter) account “a font of delight and edification… educational, but also – put simply – awwwww.”

His new book The Daycare Myth: What We Get Wrong About Early Care and Education (and What We Should Do About It) was released in September 2024. Upon its announcement, the book – which explores the costly disconnect between what we know and what we do when it comes to the needs of young children – spent more than a week at the top of Amazon’s education best sellers list. It is now in its sixth printing. 

Dan is currently hard at work on a second book, Wonderment: Our First Three Years, which was recently acquired by Ballantine Books (a division of Penguin-Random House) for publication in early 2027. 

dan@ecpolicysolutions.com

@danwuori on X/Twitter

danwuori.com

Steve graduated in 2013 from New College Lanarkshire with a BA Honours in Acting. His theatre credits include Grit: The Martyn Bennett Story (Pachamama/Tramway) directed by Cora Bissett and Hairy Maclary and Friends(Fringe 2017/UK and Asian Tour). Steve is currently the Artistic Director of Glasgow Acting Academy and loves working as a partner with others involved in Scottish youth theatre. He tells us: “I am extremely excited by the opportunity to direct this brand new production, at a time when its message is really needed.”

Caitlin is the stalwart behind our artistic and creative endeavours; always ready to make opportunities for the students possible.

Her advice and guidance has been invaluable in bringing our shows to life, and is always up for collaboration.

Helping to co-write Auld Lang Sing, Ryan is partly responsible for bringing Scottish folk to life.

Ryan is already involved in our next project, as the co-writer for Vintage Christmas… coming soon!

Visit Ryan’s Instagram here.

Rachel worked with the team on Auld Lang Sing when Siobhan was unable to make rehearsals.

Always in the background, her support and encouragement has been invaluable.

Milly Sweeney is currently studying Acting and Performance at New College Lanarkshire and is actively involved at Glasgow Acting Academy, where she has co-written several recent productions. Milly tells us of The Little Iceberg: “I am thrilled to be part of such a dynamic and imaginative production.”

Jonathan graduated from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2020. In addition to being a performer, he runs Tuoso, a creative company that increases young people’s access to musical writing. Jonathan is brimming with excitement about being part of a show that “brings such an important message to young audiences.”

Amy’s ten years with Glasgow Acting Academy have yielded memorable productions, including The Addams Family Musical, Alice in Pantoland and Romeo and Juliet. She also performed Chaos in London’s Dorfman Theatre collaboration with the National Theatre’s Connections programme. She tells us: “I cannot wait for audiences to enjoy The Little Iceberg and all the magic it has to share.”

Alice has qualifications from New College Lanarkshire and the University of Edinburgh, and she has been an eager contributor to Glasgow Live Productions. Her many credits include Doon The Watter and The Snow Queen. She tells us she “is honoured to be making my Fringe debut in such a meaningful and beautiful show.”

Kieran’s long involvement with Glasgow Acting Academy and New College Lanarkshire has given him wide-ranging theatrical experience. Particularly memorable are his performances with the Connections Festival in London and Baldy Bane Theatre Company in Scotland. Kieran tells us he is “thrilled to be a part of The Little Iceberg”.

I am aisling mum of 5 and grandma to 7, my passion is helping others find relaxation and joy, through creativity, using meditation and relaxation techniques to calm the mind body and soul.

Love crafts of all descriptions home made gifts a speciality x

Louise is a qualified speech and language therapist, trained singer and voice coach. She provides 1:1 voice therapy online and in person to adults with conditions including muscle tension dysphonia, vocal nodules and the ageing voice. She is a holistic therapist who has an interest in trauma and the mind body connection. She has worked in public speakers and singers. She aims to support people to find their authentic voice and give them the tools to speak with power and ease. 

Louise worked in Criminal Justice Social Work for 12 years both in Edinburgh and Fife, supervising community-based sentences and working in prisons.  Her job involved working with families who had been damaged by generations of poor emotional health and wellbeing, often from poor socio-economic backgrounds.  In this post, she was able to see first-hand the impact that trauma can have on families and why positive, nurturing relationships are so important , particularly for children and young people.  Louise has worked within Education as a mental health development officer for several years, promoting early intervention and preventative approaches to mental and emotional wellbeing.  She works with multi-agency partners, including CAMHS, school nurses, third sector partners, as well as colleagues from across Fife and beyond.  Much of her work is focused on universal and additional supports for wellbeing.  Louise has two daughters and understands that their personal growth depends not only on the quality attachment and bonds created within the family, but also finding their place in the world around them through peer interactions, and from developing a growth mindset.

Emily Laranja is a nurture teacher at Lynburn Primary School in Dunfermline, she is passionate about fostering the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and their families. Through understanding the nervous system, Emily incorporates somatic movement and breathing techniques to help pupils reduce stress and increase engagement in learning. By developing innovative policies, supportive systems, creating relational-led resources and trauma-informed environments within the school, she cultivates a nurturing setting that fosters growth and compassion, laying the groundwork for the brighter future that every child deserves.

Dads Rock is a charity, started by two Dads who wanted there to be more support for Dads in Scotland. They now work in Edinburgh, Glasgow, North Ayrshire and online. Dads Rock believes that Children thrive when Dads thrive. The aim of Dads Rock is to give Dads and families the tools they need to give their children the best possible start in life. 

They run a range of services, such as Dads Peer Support, playgroups, whatsapp groups, trips and parenting workshops. To find out more about their work, click here: Dads

Suzanne Scott is the founding director of Trauma Informed Parenting (TIP), a Scottish charity that provides fully funded workshops, as well as ongoing support, for parents, carers, caregivers, and professionals on adopting a trauma-informed approach.

Drawing from her own first-hand experiences—parenting a neurodivergent child and fostering —Suzanne shares practical, down-to-earth, and brutally honest insights that resonate deeply with participants. Her workshops have been described as “transformative,” “life-saving,” and “gold dust.”

Suzanne and the team at TIP are dedicated to ensuring this vital information and support are fully funded and accessible to all, working tirelessly to help families and professionals create safer, more understanding environments for children.

My name is Tricia Malone. I am blessed to be able to live on the beautiful island of Arran; although I’ll always be a Glasgow girl! I recently retired after 32 fulfilling years of teaching. My heart is full knowing I had the chance to impact so many lives in the classroom, and I now cherish the quality time I have to spend with family and friends. I’m so proud to be a small part of the wonderful Little Iceberg family, a community that brings so much joy and connection. 

Life is a beautiful adventure, and I’m grateful for every moment.

Paper Ball makes hopeful and empathetic digital and printed reminders. These included eg. prints, cards, activity sheets and bookmarks.

They are made with young people in mind, but are relatable to anyone. I make them as reminders for kids, but also for their adults. Big feelings in kids (or anyone) can be hard to navigate, it can be hard to keep regulated. I make these so children are able to read the images with or without words, but also as a tool for adults to help remember what needs to be done when you’re finding that hard to do. Equally important is the design and print quality, and that they’re appealing, colourful and playful decorations for the home or workplace.

Paper Ball is also available for collaborations or commissions.

Find me in the various online places here https://linktr.ee/paperballscotland, and feel free to get in touch with me directly about anything.

The Why Not Trust exists to promote, offer, and support meaningful relationships for people who have experience of care.   Throughout life everyone needs support, particularly during challenging transitions like becoming a parent or a student.  The Why Not? Trust creates supportive communities (The Village, for care experienced parents), and (The Wee campus, for care experienced students) where people can reach out for support from the team & each other.  Having meaningful relationships through trusted social support networks increases wellbeing for all.

We are currently piloting Thinking Space, which offers a safe space for young people to reflect on past experiences and gain a better understanding of how their past experiences may be impacting on their present and their future.

The Why Not Trust? continues to grow, and we look forward to offering more wellness opportunities to our communities.

Email: hello@whynottrust.org

Web:  https://whynottrust.org/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/thewhynottrust/?locale=en_GB

I’m a trauma-informed yoga teacher with a warm, down-to-earth approach. After 14 years in the Army Reserves and 15 years serving as a Prison Officer, I understand stress and the toll it can take on the body and mind. 

Through gentle movement, breathwork and relaxation, I help people – especially those carrying stress or trauma, to reconnect with their bodies and find a sense of calm. 

My sessions are suitable for beginners, trauma-informed and welcoming, whether in a 1:1 or small group setting.