“Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of communication. Sometime words can’t be used or found to describe thoughts and feelings but the process involved in image making and the images themselves can help to do so.” (BAAT
Clients who can use art therapy may have a wide range of different difficulties, disabilities or diagnoses. These include, for example emotional, behavioral or mental health problems, learning or physical disabilities, life limiting conditions, brain injury or neurological conditions and physical illness. My specialist areas are providing therapy for:
Individuals with attachment difficulties and relationship formation
Issues of self-injury
Neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD and ADHD
Eating disorders
Victims of sexual abuse
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Learning and communication difficulties
Issues of loss and bereavement
Perpetrators of sexual offences
Asylum seekers and refugees
Schizophrenia and Borderline Personality Disorder
Sibling and family work. I am a registered Art Psychotherapist; I completed my Art Psychotherapy Practice MA at Leeds metropolitan University and Postgraduate Diploma in Art Psychotherapy at Latrobe University, Melbourne . I am accredited by the Health Professionals Council and the British Association of Art Therapists to work as a Private Practitioner and Supervisor. I have over 10 years experience working in the field of mental health and social care. I have worked in and have specialist experience in the following fields;
Secure forensic rehabilitation services, providing treatment programmes for sexual offenders, predominantly with learning disability diagnosis and addiction issues. Acute psychiatrics, working at Melbourne’s Richmond fellowship with individuals from the refugee community with diagnosis of acute schizophrenia and PTSD. Leaving care services for looked after children, establishing and running a new service for unaccompanied asylum seeking children. Looked After Children’s residential services, particularly around issues of attachment. Multi-agency support team offering therapeutic support to vulnerable children and their families, running groups focusing on issues of bulling and transition. Several CAMHS services, offering evidenced based therapeutic interventions for a wide range of mental health issues. Extensive work with young people who self harm, devising a group treatment model for this client group, together with extensive input into the Emotional Difficulties Pathway for the CAMHS Choice and Partnership model. Comprehensive work with children who have experienced sexual abuse. Experience within the family therapy team. Community Mental Health Team, conducting assessments, planning effective care pathways, particular in the areas of bi-polar disorder, unresolved grief and eating disorders. Secure adult psychiatric services predominantly with females diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), providing a range of 1-1 and group treatments utilising a range of theoretical models, including CBT, DBT and MBT. As Head of Therapy within an acute psychiatric hospital, providing both group and individual managerial and clinical supervision to students and a multidisciplinary team, delivering training packages to a range of health and social care professionals. How long will it take? Art Psychotherapy treatment packages run fora minimum of 12 weeks and can be extended according to need. Long termtreatment packages are also available to deal with complex and enduringproblems
How do I access the service? Referrals can be made directly to me. I will then notify the client’s GP and other relevant agencies that therapeutic work has begun, in keeping with the Guidelines for Private Practitioner status. Art Psychotherapy can also be provided in a venue convenient for the client’s needs such as a residential unit or children’s centre. I am able to conduct therapeutic sessions on sites within a 40 mile radius of Manchester city centre or via my art psychotherapy studio which is located in central Manchester, a 3 minutes walk from Oxford Road rail station or a 10 minute walk from Castlefield locks metro link. Please get in touch for further information or with any questions.
