I have been working as an art psychotherapist since 2007. I am currently training in Core Process Psychotherapy I bring these modes of working to my work with clients .
Art psychotherapy provides people with the chance to tell their own story through creative expression.
Creating art, and expression within a safe space is a unique way to reflect, organize thoughts and emotions and open up new pathways leading to restoration and transformation.
Core process psychotherapy (CPP) is the original mindfulness-based approach to therapy, established in 1982 and emphasizes a deep, ongoing awareness of one's body and mental processes for self-exploration and healing. Therapy is a joint undertaking in which the therapist accompanies the individual on a journey into the deepest levels of his or her experiences. The therapist serves as a facilitator, helping the individual focus attention inward and become aware of what he or she is experiencing in the present moment. Through this contemplative self-study, individuals may discover the historical roots of their problems and achieve a clearer sense of who they are. As they process this information in the present, they will hopefully begin to let go of old habits and approach life with greater creativity and flexibility.
Bringing these two modalities together I offer clients the opportunity to reorient back to themselves, their own momentaryexperience and offer art materials as a mode of embodying and expressing this. Mindfulness and creative artistic expression can allow clients the opportunity to 'turn down the volume' on thoughts and ideas and connect to what we are truly experiencing.
Sessions are:
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Client lead. Meaning it is lead by the client, at their pace, in their own way. I'm there to provide and hold a therapeutic and creative space and build a trusting relationship, not to advise, direct or interpret the client's art work.
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Communicative. - Sessions involve speaking and offer the opportunity to use art materials.
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Organizing - The process of speaking to a psychotherapist and possibly art making provide a unique way of organizing and reflecting on thoughts and emotions. Keeping artwork, looking back over it and reviewing it builds up a sense of order, timeline and an understanding about experiences, circumstances and emotions and the way in which they are linked.
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Affirmative - Psychotherapy and artistic expression can build person's a sense of self, leads to increased self compassion, confidence.
Art Therapy can help with issues surrounding:
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I have experience of working with and clients reporting psychotherapy helping them with the following:
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Relationships
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Addiction
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Confidence/identity
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Communication
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Loss/Bereavement
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Trauma
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Anger
Sessions provide a safe, consistent and confidential setting in which people are able to speak about/express themselves surrounding their lives and work through their experiences and feelings.
What will sessions be like?
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Clients can express thoughts and feelings.
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I have my own therapy space. The atmosphere is confidential, undisturbed and relaxed.
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If clients need guidance I'm there to help.
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A range of materials will be available to use, but there is no expectation for them to be used.
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If art work is made it is stored in a confidential locked storage space which clients have access to.
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Sessions are confidential and therefore I will not discuss the content of sessions or show art work to anyone except for my UKCP registered clinical supervisor or if there is an obvious safety issue.