Art Therapy

What is art therapy?

Art therapy and drama or movement therapy are forms of psychotherapy that use the creative processes of art-making, movement or drama techniques to explore and communicate issues, feelings, and emotions that may be too difficult or distressing to express directly. Within this context, art is not used as a diagnostic tool but as a medium to address emotional issues which may be confusing and distressing.


As an art therapist, I am regulated by and a member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). I have arts-based experience and training in psychological interventions using drama, movement and art to help individuals, couples, families, children, and adolescents. This form of therapy can help to relieve stress, improve mental well-being, increase self-awareness, develop coping mechanisms and can also treat more complex clinical problems and challenging situations.

What can art therapy help with?

You don’t need to be in crisis or diagnosed with mental illness to benefit from art therapy. It can help you understand your emotions and deal with emotional or mental health problems such as:

  • Feeling like you can't cope
  • Anxiety
  • Lack of confidence or extreme shyness
  • Problems dealing with stress or recovering from stressful situations
  • Coping with the effects of abuse
  • Extreme mood swings
  • Feelings of depression, sadness, grief, or emptiness
  • Sexual problems
  • Difficulties coming to terms with losses such as bereavement, divorce, or unemployment
  • Difficulty making or sustaining relationships or repeatedly becoming involved in unsatisfying or destructive relationships
  • Self-harm
  • Eating disorders
  • Panic attacks and phobias.
  • Obsessive behaviour

How will art therapy help me?

Art therapy can be a life-changing therapy that can help you improve your mental health, overcome social or emotional challenges, and fulfil your potential. During the art therapy sessions, I can support you to:

  • Express your feelings in a non-verbal manner and process them in a safe and supportive relationship
  • Gain deeper insight into the issues you face
  • Use expressive and creative mechanisms to communicate things in a confidential environment that you might not feel able to communicate otherwise
  • Make sense of any clinical diagnoses you have had by understanding what has happened to you
  • Change the way you think and behave to improve your mental and emotional well-being
  • Improve relationships in your life, including with yourself
  • Find better ways to cope with feelings and fears
  • Heal from trauma
  • Learn to communicate better and tolerate differences in yourself and others.