Joanna has spent over 23 years specialising in working with children and teenagers who set fires.

Her work includes direct practice with children and families, and training, supervision and consultancy services to professionals and organisations.

Joanna trains UK and overseas personnel both face-to-face and online who represent disciplines such as fire and rescue services, education, social care, arts therapies, mental health, forensic psychology, police, youth justice, the voluntary sector and academia.

Speaking frequently at conferences across the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia, the US, Australia and New Zealand, her work has also featured in the ‘Financial Times’ and in the BBC2 documentary, ‘The Kids Who Play With Fire’.

Joanna’s first book, ‘Children and Teenagers Who Set Fires: Why they do it and how to help’ was released in October 2019 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Her second book, co-edited with Dr Nichola Tyler, explores international perspectives on child and youth firesetting, and is due to be published by Routledge in 2026.

Joanna’s Master’s thesis from the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge explored the decision-making of fire service staff when identifying risk and need in children who set fires. Her thesis received a distinction and also the Kathleen McDermott award for fieldwork.

Joanna’s You Tube channel ‘FE with Jo’ features posts that include resources, case studies and lectures relevant to the subject of child-set fires and trauma-informed care.