Thyme Art Therapy

02/01/2026

Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best for the coming year.

Are you going to set a New Year intention?

I moved away from New Year's resolutions a few years ago as they felt like too much of a demand, but I'm conscious my ADHD brain likes the novelty of a new intention, which can be much more vague and flexible than a resolution.

Mine this year is to prioritise making adjustments to meet my own needs.

After a busy Christmas trip away, on New Year's Day I wanted to go for a walk but I wasn't feeling sociable and didn't really want to bump into anyone. So I went out as it was getting dark. The moon was beautiful and the air was fresh and cold. I reflected on how I was meeting my own needs by going against the grain and the traditions of New Year's Day family walks, and that I should do this more!

Saying that, in this artwork I left the actual intention blank - it feels nice to have the flexibility to change it or add in more ideas, and I like that space more than committing to one specific intention!

18/12/2025

I booked a peer support session with Autism Central when my son was beginning to really struggle with school attendance, and it was great - I felt listened to and supported with practical suggestions. Back then they were one off sessions so it’s great you can now book more than one.

Are you working with family members of autistic people, or do you need personalised guidance for your own family?

We’re commissioned by the NHS to offer free, online coaching sessions through Autism Central.

These sessions are delivered by our trained and supervised peer guides with lived or family experience.

The sessions offer a safe space to reflect on autistic wellbeing, family life and practical guidance, helping you feel heard, connected and navigate services.

Anyone living in England and supporting an autistic person of any age is eligible. 4, 8 or 10 consecutive sessions can be booked.

Find out more and get booked in: https://orlo.uk/FAuao

12/12/2025

This group has been going well!

There are a few places left for our next meet up on Monday 15 December - see post below for booking link and more info.

I've also just added dates for next year:

Mondays 7-8.30pm
12 January
9 February
9 February
20 April

Hope to see some of you there, Jenny :-)

09/12/2025

Here is a tour of the room and materials I bring when running my Art & Wellbeing group for families of young people who aren't attending school.

Further info about the group:

Fridays 10.30am-12pm
Bedminster Quaker Meeting House, Wedmore Vale, Bristol, BS3 5HX
Facilitated by me, Jenny Clarke, a registered Art Therapist (www.thymearttherapy.co.uk)

This is a small group with some core families taking part but we have available for some further families to get involved. The group offers neuro-affirming, low demand creative wellbeing support for young people aged 8+ who aren’t in school, who are not currently in school (i.e. home educated, flexi-schooled, EBSA). It's designed for neurodivergent families but all welcome. The aim is for parents and young people to take part together.

You will be able to:
- Explore art and nature based activities
- Work together or separately
- Everyone attending can join in
- Choose what you'd like to do each time (self-directed art-making available)
- Use the garden and wooded area - if you'd prefer to stay inside that is fine too

You don't have to be good at art to join in, and the focus will be on the therapeutic benefits of making art such as expression and relaxation. Some of the activities we have done so far include; bubble painting, styrofoam printing, rubber stamp carving, shaving foam marbling, soft clay, cyanotypes, badge-making. All materials provided.

Tickets are £7.50 per person, bookable here https://www.trybooking.com/uk/ECRM (please buy a ticket for everyone attending). Or book a block of sessions for £5 per person per session – contact jenny@thymearttherapy.co.uk for more info.

05/12/2025

While the under-diagnosis of neurodivergent conditions is a critical issue, I also feel much more needs to be done to support people on the basis of their needs, and regardless of diagnosis.

Today we heard "Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnoses" [BBC]. ADHD is an underdiagnosed and undersupported medical issue.

ADHD is not overdiagnosed. A recent Lancet study published research that analysed 9 million GP records and showed just 0.32% of patients have a diagnosis of ADHD. That's nudging just 10% of the 3-4% of the population who have ADHD. We're underdiagnosed, not overdiagnosed. In addition, a BBC study showed the average wait for an ADHD diagnosis in England is 8 years. The idea that you can achieve overdiagnosis with an average wait of nearly a decade is just preposterous.

The targets of the announced report are laudable "to raise the healthiest generation, increase healthy life expectancy, and reduce su***de". People with ADHD are more at risk of su***de and have a lower life expectancy. 1 in 4 women, and 1 in 10 men, with ADHD will at some time try to take their own lives. On average, a woman with ADHD will die 9 years younger than her peers, and a man 7 years younger than his peers. The issues and challenges that ADHD can bring are finally being recognised, and our potentially naive hope is that this review will progress the recognition of ADHD.

However, we are very worried about the government's failure to bring a political solution to the rising cost of welfare, means they're instead looking to run roughshod over decades of medical progress and recognition. In particular for ADHD.

28/08/2025

*New*
Art & Wellbeing group for late-identified neurodivergent adults

Monthly: 22 September, 20 October, 17 November, 15 December 2025 (2026 dates to follow)
Mondays 7-8.30pm
Bedminster Quaker Meeting House, Wedmore Vale, Bristol, BS3 5HX

This is a monthly art & wellbeing group for late-identified neurodivergent* adults. No diagnosis necessary. Facilitated by a neurodivergent Art Therapist (Jenny Clarke).

Join this friendly and welcoming creative group to make some art and connect and share experiences with other neurodivergent adults in a low-pressure environment.

You don't need to be good at art to take part, just interested in exploring/experimenting with art materials. All materials provided for self-directed art making (you decide what you make). Jenny can help make suggestions if you don't know where to start. You are also welcome to bring a project and work on that if you'd prefer.

Tea, coffee and biscuits included in ticket price.

In lighter months we can use the lovely garden and woodland area at the venue as well as the indoor room.

*Neurodivergent is being autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyspraxic etc - or any combination :-)

Tickets are on a scale of what you can afford:
£5 low income
£10 mid income
£15 pay it forward

Bookable here: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/FFHI

Please contact jenny@thymearttherapy.co.uk for more info.

12/08/2025

**Art & Wellbeing group for families of young people not attending school**
Fridays 10.30am-12pm
Bedminster Quaker Meeting House, Wedmore Vale, Bristol, BS3 5HX
Facilitated by Jenny Clarke, a registered Art Therapist (www.thymearttherapy.co.uk)

Our lovely weekly group is starting up again on Friday 5 September. We have been running since January 2025 and I have booked the venue for Sept 2025 – July 2026.

This is a small group with some core families taking part but we have available for some further families to get involved. The group offers neuro-affirming, low demand creative wellbeing support for young people aged 8+ who aren’t in school, who are not currently in school (i.e. home educated, flexi-schooled, EBSA). It's designed for neurodivergent families but all welcome. The aim is for parents and young people to take part together.

You will be able to:
- Explore art and nature based activities
- Work together or separately
- Everyone attending can join in
- Choose what you'd like to do each time (self-directed art-making available)
- Use the garden and wooded area - if you'd prefer to stay inside that is fine too

You don't have to be good at art to join in, and the focus will be on the therapeutic benefits of making art such as expression and relaxation. Some of the activities we have done so far include; bubble painting, styrofoam printing, rubber stamp carving, shaving foam marbling, soft clay, cyanotypes, badge-making. All materials provided.

Tickets are £7.50 per person, bookable here https://www.trybooking.com/uk/ECRM (please buy a ticket for everyone attending). Or book a block of sessions for £5 per person per session – contact jenny@thymearttherapy.co.uk for more info.

Offered as part of the Nature & Nurture Collective, for more info www.nature-and-nurture.org
[photos shared with permission]

20/04/2025

🌳Nature-based art therapy group for late-identified neurodivergent adults🌳

Are you new to identifying as neurodivergent (autistic, ADHD or any other neurodevelopmental condition)? Join us to explore identity, strengths and challenges in a neuro-affirming, supportive creative group. No formal diagnosis necessary. Facilitated by Jenny Clarke, a neurodivergent Art Therapist (HCPC/BAAT registered).

🌿Tuesdays 6-8pm
10 June - 22 July 2025 (seven weeks)
Bedminster Quaker Meeting House
Wedmore Vale, Bedminster BS3 5HX

🪴Cost: £175, which can be paid in two instalments. All materials, hot drinks and biscuits included. This is a small group (six people maximum). Everyone booking will be offered an introductory 30min video call. Bookings will close on 19 May.

🖼️For further information www.nature-and-nurture.org/what-s-on/ or to book a place, please email jenny@thymearttherapy.co.uk

31/03/2025

*Nature & Nurture Collective Art & Wellbeing Group for Families*

This group offers neuro-affirming creative wellbeing support for young people aged 8+ who aren’t in school, and a parent/carer.

You can now book a ‘term’ of sessions for £5 per person per session – contact jenny@thymearttherapy.co.uk for more info.

Weekly on Fridays 10.30am-12pm
Bedminster Quaker Meeting House, Wedmore Vale, Bristol, BS3 5HX
Facilitated by Jenny Clarke (Art Therapist)

Tickets are £7.50 per person (please buy a ticket for everyone attending). For more info and tickets: www.nature-and-nurture.org

20/02/2025

Nature & Nurture Collective Art & Wellbeing Group for Families:
Neuro-affirming creative wellbeing support for young people aged 8+ who aren’t in school, and a parent/carer.

Starting up again 14 March 2025! You can now book a ‘term’ of sessions for £5 per person per session – contact jenny@thymearttherapy.co.uk for more info.

Weekly on Fridays 10.30am-12pm
Bedminster Quaker Meeting House, Wedmore Vale, Bristol, BS3 5HX
Facilitated by Jenny Clarke (Art Therapist)

Tickets are £7.50 per person (please buy a ticket for everyone attending). For more info and tickets: www.nature-and-nurture.org

20/02/2025

Book now to secure your place :-)

19/02/2025

😮I'm so excited to hear today that my practice paper (written with two former colleagues) ‘Safety in a person-centred, garden-based art therapy group for people with dementia’ has been published in International Journal of Art Therapy. Link in bio (follow the link to my website, and on the homepage I've added a blog post with a link to the article online). It's part of the Nature-based Art Therapy special issue.
Since I set up Thyme Art Therapy, I've been more focused on working with neurodivergent clients however this article being published has reminded me that I have a lot of experience working with older adults and people living with dementia too - and I really value working in this area.🌿