Art Psychotherapy
I work as an arts psychotherapist using talking and creative processes with warmth and sensitivity, to explore your strengths and difficulties and whatever brings you to therapy.
I focus on the here-and-now, asking you to pay attention to what your body and feelings may be communicating, which can help you to make sense of patterns in relationships and offer you more choice.
I draw on research into the neurobiology of body-mind connections, which can be particularly relevant if you have experienced trauma.
You don’t need to be good at painting or drawing to use the arts for expression, increasing awareness, facilitating growth and supporting well-being.
I work as an arts psychotherapist using talking and creative processes with warmth and sensitivity, to explore your strengths and difficulties and whatever brings you to therapy.
I focus on the here-and-now, asking you to pay attention to what your body and feelings may be communicating, which can help you to make sense of patterns in relationships and offer you more choice.
I draw on research into the neurobiology of body-mind connections, which can be particularly relevant if you have experienced trauma.
You don’t need to be good at painting or drawing to use the arts for expression, increasing awareness, facilitating growth and supporting well-being.
Background
I grew up in rural Tasmania, where my connection with nature was expressed through photography. After training as a speech and language therapist in Melbourne, Australia, I specialised in working with children with complex needs and their parents. I arrived in England in 1992 and managed a children’s speech and language therapy service in southwest London.
Following a career break to bring up children, I developed my own art practice by doing an art foundation and then retrained as an integrative art psychotherapist at the Institute for Art in Therapy and Education, London.
I grew up in rural Tasmania, where my connection with nature was expressed through photography. After training as a speech and language therapist in Melbourne, Australia, I specialised in working with children with complex needs and their parents. I arrived in England in 1992 and managed a children’s speech and language therapy service in southwest London.
Following a career break to bring up children, I developed my own art practice by doing an art foundation and then retrained as an integrative art psychotherapist at the Institute for Art in Therapy and Education, London.
A bit more about using the arts
When words are not enough to convey the depth of an experience, the arts can offer a non-speaking way of expressing yourself. You may be invited to choose postcards, use drawing or painting materials, a sandtray with small objects, or modelling clay to explore and experiment. We are all creative in how we solve problems, use our imagination, or enjoy music for example.
Art can help to hold difficult emotions, create distance from thoughts, and offer different perspectives. It can provide a bridge between feelings and thoughts and bring new insights to things which are out of your everyday awareness.
When words are not enough to convey the depth of an experience, the arts can offer a non-speaking way of expressing yourself. You may be invited to choose postcards, use drawing or painting materials, a sandtray with small objects, or modelling clay to explore and experiment. We are all creative in how we solve problems, use our imagination, or enjoy music for example.
Art can help to hold difficult emotions, create distance from thoughts, and offer different perspectives. It can provide a bridge between feelings and thoughts and bring new insights to things which are out of your everyday awareness.
Theories and interests
I work with adults in person and online. My training is integrative, which means I draw on a range of theories and models. My work is underpinned by gestalt principles, trauma informed body work and attachment theory.
I have worked with adults living in the community with complex, long term mental distress (Lifecraft, Cambridge); older men suffering a mental health crisis requiring hospitalisation (NHS in east London): and co-facilitated art-for-wellness groups and psycho-education groups.
I am particularly interested in how patterns are passed down through generations and remain passionate about supporting parent-child relationships.
I am interested in developing a nature-based eco-psychotherapy practice, in the therapy room and outside in other environments.
I work with adults in person and online. My training is integrative, which means I draw on a range of theories and models. My work is underpinned by gestalt principles, trauma informed body work and attachment theory.
I have worked with adults living in the community with complex, long term mental distress (Lifecraft, Cambridge); older men suffering a mental health crisis requiring hospitalisation (NHS in east London): and co-facilitated art-for-wellness groups and psycho-education groups.
I am particularly interested in how patterns are passed down through generations and remain passionate about supporting parent-child relationships.
I am interested in developing a nature-based eco-psychotherapy practice, in the therapy room and outside in other environments.
Accreditations
Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC)
British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT)
Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE)
Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC)
British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT)
Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE)
Qualifications
MA Integrative Arts Psychotherapy (Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education, University of East London, 2021)
Advanced Diploma in Integrative Arts Psychotherapy (IATE, 2018)
Certificate of Counselling Skills for people working with the Creative Arts (IATE, 2018)
BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Cambridge Regional College 2017)
B. App. Sci. in Speech Pathology (Lincoln Institute, Melbourne, Australia, 1996)
MA Integrative Arts Psychotherapy (Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education, University of East London, 2021)
Advanced Diploma in Integrative Arts Psychotherapy (IATE, 2018)
Certificate of Counselling Skills for people working with the Creative Arts (IATE, 2018)
BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Cambridge Regional College 2017)
B. App. Sci. in Speech Pathology (Lincoln Institute, Melbourne, Australia, 1996)