What is Art Psychotherapy?

Art Psychotherapy or ‘Art Therapy’ is a form of therapy that uses art making to express thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, feelings and experiences with a therapist in the context of a trusting therapeutic relationship developed over time. This is a collaborative approach and I provide guidance and support in creating art and using art materials where needed. This may involve thinking together about the artwork to explore together possible meaning for you.

It is an approach that gives you greater control and sense of agency so can be helpful in feeling safer in therapy to explore experiences at a pace that feels right for you.

What is an Art Therapist?

Only someone who has done a recognised training and is state registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) can call themselves an Art Therapist.

• Art Therapists are trained to MA level and training takes a minimum of 2 years full time.

• The HCPC is a governmental body designed to protect the interests of the public when they seek a health care practitioner. (hcpc-uk.org)

• Art Therapists are also often registered with the British Association of Art Therapists (baat.org)

How could Art Therapy help me?

Art Therapy can give tangible form to experiences that can be hard to say in words. Unconscious emotions, themes and stories about ourselves and the world can be made sense of. Talking about, and reflecting on images together in the context of a trusting therapeutic relationship, can be healing and cathartic. Sometimes this process can be upsetting for a while, but the aim is for some change or shift to be felt as a result of the therapy process.

Do I need to be good at art?

No, what’s important is the process of making art and feeling like you can express something important or play with materials, rather than what it looks like or a final art work.

What is the process?

• I offer a free 20 minute initial chat in person or via phone. Alternatively, I offer a for £15 - please see the button below to book.

• Following this, if you would like to book in, we will have an paid initial session where we will complete initial paperwork, including consent forms and agree terms of therapy.

• After this, we will agree to an initial phase of sessions, usually of around 4-6 sessions. This is for us to understand if Art Therapy will be a good fit for you, and will help us gain greater shared understanding of what you would like to work on. Following these initial 4-6 sessions, we will usually have a reflection and review session to agree therapeutic aim(s) and agree if you would like to continue therapy together.

• I offer sessions usually on a weekly basis, and offer you the same time slot each week, however this can be negotiated.

• I currently offer Monday daytime, Monday evening and Friday mornings.

Fees

I offer two rates which are £65 and £60. The £60 rate is for those with lower income or students, and the £65 is for those who are waged/have higher income.

What is the evidence base for Art Therapy?

Currently, an evidence base exists for Art Therapy for treating attachment and trauma in children, notably sexual abuse. Research evidence also supports Art Therapy with adults for psychosis (NICE guidelines), end of life care, people affected by cancer and emotional regulation issues. I specialise in trauma and supporting emotional regulation within my Art Therapy practice but do not currently work with acute difficulties such as psychosis.