Art psychotherapy is a regulated health profession that supports emotional, psychological and social wellbeing through a professionally guided psychotherapeutic process. Because our early experiences can shape how we understand ourselves, relate to others and make sense of the world around us, psychotherapy can help bring greater awareness to how these patterns developed and how they may still be affecting the present. From there, the work can focus on identifying what is difficult now and supporting movement towards the direction you want your life to take.

 

Therapy may be helpful when:

• navigating change, transition or an important stage of development

• emotions, behaviours or relationships are becoming difficult to understand or manage

• familiar patterns are causing distress or getting in the way of everyday life

• stress, irritability, withdrawal or feeling overwhelmed are beginning to affect daily life

• difficult or traumatic experiences continue to affect the present

• there are questions around identity, belonging, confidence or self-understanding

• a child, young person or adult is finding it difficult to express what they are experiencing

• relationships, school, work, family life or responsibilities feel harder to navigate

 

Beyond talking about a problem

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These are only some of the reasons someone may come to therapy. Supportive relationships with friends, family and community can be invaluable, but psychotherapy has a different purpose. It is a professional health intervention informed by clinical training, research and an understanding of how psychological experiences can affect emotional, relational and physiological functioning.

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Significant or prolonged adverse experiences can influence the way we respond to stress, relationships and our environment. They are not always processed through conscious thought or language alone. Experiences can also involve sensory, emotional, physiological and non-verbal aspects of memory.

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This is particularly relevant to art psychotherapy. Informed by research across psychotherapy, trauma and neuroscience, it allows verbal and non-verbal processes to be explored together. Working with images and art materials can engage sensory, emotional, cognitive and symbolic ways of processing experience, supporting greater integration and understanding where words alone may not be enough.

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The way we work is tailored to the individual, their age, circumstances and wider context. Sessions may be verbal, creative, or a combination of both, depending on what feels appropriate and useful. Art-making is never a requirement, and no artistic experience is needed.

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I work with children, young people and adults, and offer a complimentary initial consultation to discuss what is bringing you to therapy and whether working together feels appropriate.