01639 635000

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 through 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.  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 Art Psychotherapy. 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.  

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.

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.