HCPC Registered Art Therapist, Cumbria UK
I am a self-employed HCPC Registered Art Therapist & Member of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) based in the South Lakes, Cumbria. I qualified in 2000 at QMUC in Edinburgh and have worked with children and young people in social services and schools, with adults in mental health day services and with older adults experiencing dementia. Since 2020 I have worked with children, young people and adults experiencing illness or bereavement, with the local charity CancerCare.
healing through art-making
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy informed by psychodynamic and integrative therapy theories and can be practised with children, young people and adult client groups.
my approach
In art therapy, as with other forms of counselling and psychotherapy, the therapeutic relationship between the client and therapist is of central importance.
Within each of us there is potential to ‘self-regulate’ and to heal. My aim is to facilitate this through my humanistic and person-centred, mainly non-directive therapy approach, by applying empathy and acceptance and by providing a safe, contained, confidential space that promotes trust. This can enable the client to confidently explore and express any difficult thoughts and feelings they may be experiencing through the use of art materials, images, play and talking.
I attune myself to the client’s way of working and sometimes a more directive approach may be helpful.
art-making
Art-making offers another language, non-verbal and symbolic. For some clients it might be easier to use art-making as a means of communication, expressing and finding forms for feelings.
By symbolising feelings and experiences in images, as well as being a powerful means of expression and communication, it can also help make these feelings seem less threatening or overwhelming. The art-making process and image, can then provide the focus for reflection and discussion.
Messy art-making can represent expression of internal chaotic or angry feelings and a child’s response to art materials can often be closer to play than to purposeful image making.
talking
An art therapy session will vary for each client, depending on age, preference and verbal ability. Some clients will work quietly, but many clients also like to talk while they make their art.
It can feel less intense talking about things while doing something creative – significant surprises can happen in the art-making, which the client may also want to talk about. Children often enjoy art and so art therapy can be experienced as fun as well as helping.
storage of artwork
The art images created, whatever they may be, are of great significance as a symbolic representation of inner experience. All the client’s artwork is kept safe and confidential for the duration of their therapy.
This is an important part of maintaining the boundaries, containment and record of the therapeutic process, the making of the art and the interaction between therapist and client.
At the end of working together, the client and I can review the art therapy journey by looking through and reflecting upon their artwork and experience of their art-making process, in whatever way they choose. It can be very helpful to have this visual and tangible record of therapy to reflect upon.
no art skill necessary
By attending art therapy you do not need to have any previous experience or skill in art.
Your involvement in the creative process can help process difficult or traumatic experience and has the potential to rebuild self-esteem, strengthen ego, help with emotional self-regulation, improve self-confidence and can also promote a sense of achievement.
You may often be surprised by the significant or deeper meaning expressed in your artwork.
private practice
I work in accordance with the HCPC’s and BAAT’s code of conduct and principles of practice and have regular clinical supervision.
https://cancercare.org.uk/
Art therapy client statement
‘I’m quite an imaginative person but I’ve never developed any kind of artistic expressive skills, such as drawing or painting. Art therapy gave me a chance to overcome my artistic inhibitions and, at the same time, to explore, in an innovative way, all the personal issues that I was struggling with at the time.
The process of engaging with the art materials and making and exploring my images and other creations was both playful and fascinating. I found I reached a depth of self-discovery that other forms of therapy simply cannot access. With the support of my art therapist, insights emerged gradually and naturally into my awareness and these became powerful inner resources for me to apply to the challenges I was experiencing in my relationships, career and life’
MC – adult art therapy client
For my directory listing on the British Association of Art Therapy (BAAT website)