MY BACKGROUND
I am a HCPC, BACP and BAAT registered Art Psychotherapist with an MA in Art Psychotherapy and I have been working within my private practice since 2018. I am also certified in a trauma informed approach and have training in the use of Yoga and EMDR tools to help you regulate your nervous system and to embody self-compassion and a felt-sense of safety. I have also been a lecturer for the Open University covering modules in Counselling and Mental Health.
Prior to working as an Art Psychotherapist, I was a Primary School Teacher for 12 years, a Piano Teacher and a Self-employed registered Childminder for 2 years.
As an Art Psychotherapist and Psychotherapist, I am self-employed and work with a wide range of clients. I work with adults and young people and I provide weekly 1:1 sessions face to face. I am based in Neath, South Wales but I also offer online sessions for clients living further away in the UK. These sessions can involve artmaking but can also be talking psychotherapy without art. Over the years, I have been developing a more integrative approach combining psychodynamic theories, person-centred therapies and mind/body based work to help my clients alongside artmaking. I have worked with people struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, bereavement, eating disorders, personality disorders, anger issues, relationship difficulties, identity, addiction and isolation to name just a few.
As a Psychotherapist and Art Psychotherapist, I am psychodynamically trained and combine the theories and methods of this practice with mindfulness and person-centred therapies. My aim is to help you unravel, experience and understand your true feelings in order to be at peace with them.
Psychodynamic theories focus on how we learn to relate to the world, how we relate to ourselves and how the world relates back to us. Our first experiences of the world, within the primary relationships and the environment you first experienced when very young have a strong impact on how we continue to experience ourselves and others. We take these experiences with us, internalise beliefs
and coping strategies and evolve in the world with attachment styles and learnt ways of relating. Often, our unconscious can hold onto painful experiences causing us to develop various defences which can inhibit future relationships. Sometimes, through the effects of trauma later on in life, we can develop these unhealthy ways of relating for fear of being hurt again. For this reason, psychodynamic psychotherapy/art psychotherapy can work particularly well with people who have lost meaning to their lives, who are unsure of their identity or have difficulty forming or maintaining healthy relationships.
I am extremely passionate about Art Psychotherapy helping people with their difficulties because it allows you to explore the use of the art materials with no judgement. By just 'seeing what happens' as I often say, it enables the unconscious to come to the surface through your artwork whether or not you believe you are skilled at art. Your artwork then provides a platform to work from and through further exploration, artmaking and conversation, we can begin to discover the deep roots of your feelings and difficulties.
I also believe that we hold our emotions physically and that we can develop pain or discomfort in our bodies as a result of trauma or emotional upset. Our nervous systems can become stuck in a state of shut down or hyper-arousal due to overwhelm during traumatic times or traumatic relationships and this can significantly impinge on our day to day lives. I often use mindfulness, focusing, breathing techniques and movement to help you to become more self-aware, connecting mind, body and soul as one whole and to empower you with the tools to be able to recognise what your body needs in order to regulate your nervous system for yourself.
Being open to self-reflection, self-exploration and having a natural curiosity for your internal world can enable you to move forward in a healthier and happier direction. The choice is yours as to what you feel comfortable exploring within any session and which methods you are open to trying. I am very client led and tailor the sessions to suit your needs and to create safety in choice.
Over the years, I have also provided sessions within Pupil Referral Units and schools, offering Art Therapy to pupils who struggle with anxiety, emotional regulation, anger difficulties, suppressed emotions, bereavement, body image and low self-esteem to name just a few of their difficulties. I have worked with parents from these schools too.
In addition to these projects, I have provided Art Therapy to organisations for 'Wellbeing Days' such as colleges, schools, charities etc. and weekly group sessions for adults within various charities.
Previously, as an Art Psychotherapist, I have worked within the NHS, Secondary Care in Adult Mental Health. I have also worked within the NHS on a ward for older adults, offering Art Therapy to clients suffering from dementia, physical symptoms and illnesses, loneliness and memory loss.
I have found working with all of my clients a privilege and I have made it my aim to become attuned to each and every one of them in order to engage fully within the therapeutic relationship with them, enable them to feel heard and to authentically empathise with their individual stories through their art-making, self-reflecting and verbal communication. I want to empower my clients to find a happier and healthier path and for them to strengthen their self-belief and sense of safety to move forward independently.
Most importantly I place you, the client, at the centre, learning from and understanding your individual needs.
I have Professional Indemnity Insurance and I have an up to date DBS certificate.
HCPC Registered Art Psychotherapist.
My qualifications:
MA Art Psychotherapy
PGCE Primary
BA Honours History of Art
