About Creative Arts Therapy

It can feel daunting to open up and begin the process of sharing your story with a therapist, whether you have had experience with therapy before or not. I endeavour to create a warm, non-judgemental and welcoming environment, that will help you to explore your emotions, and gain the courage to trust yourself and the therapeutic process.

I work using a person-centred approach, listening and supporting you as you process and share your story. Through this journey together I will use my skills and experience to enable you to connect to your soul, your power and inner-gold, and to finally begin to thrive.

“What is inner-gold? It is our soul, the self, the innermost part of our being. It is us at our best, our 24 carat gift to ourselves. Everyone has inner-gold. It isn’t created, but it does have to be discovered.”

Robert A. Johnson

Who Is It For?

Creative arts therapy can help with:

Stress, anxiety & depression
Low self-esteem
Interpersonal relationship issues
Substance abuse
Behavioural issues associated with autism
Rehabilitation
Schizophrenia
Personality disorder
Dementia
Eating disorder
Learning difficulties
Grief and loss

Creative arts therapy can help you to:

Communicate difficult thoughts and feelings
Make sense of things and understand yourself better
Find new ways to look at problems
Process complicated or painful experiences, including trauma
Deepen self-love and empowerment
Navigate difficult emotions, change and growth
Increase connection and harmony in relationships
Explore your playfulness and imagination
Explore how mental health problems affect the body
Gain clarity, direction and purpose
Gain a sense of self through creativity
Become present by connecting with the body

What Is Creative Arts Therapy?

Creative arts therapy involves encouraging you to communicate through a form of artistic expression, such as music, movement, role play, painting or story making. Creating a piece of art, to discuss with the therapist, can help unlock thoughts and feelings you have struggled to express verbally. No artistic ability or previous experience are needed for this process to be successful!

“Visualising and drawing my ideal ‘calm place,’ alongside the letter to self, really helped me engage with self compassion and self soothing, and helped me to better understand my trauma and triggers. These techniques also gave me a safe space to hold myself and take time to appreciate how far I’ve come.”

H. G. – private client.

The essence of this type of therapy is ‘To be seen and heard openly, as we start to reveal our unique strengths, vulnerabilities and wounds.’

Experiences and emotions are processed through ‘embodied awareness,’ which is a tool to spark healing for the broken or lost self. It enables us to feel fully present and alive, connecting to the moment using sensory experiences, such as breathwork, to ground ourselves.

Prices & Practicalities

Private sessions last 50 minutes, usually once a week at a regular time, at The Rydal in Branksome Park, Poole. A typical session runs as follows:

Check in
Warm up
Main activity/event
De-role
Closure/reflection

I’m also happy to conduct therapy sessions via Zoom.

My normal rate is £85, with a sliding scale by negotiation for students and people on benefits or in difficult financial situations (this can be discussed at our first meeting). I ask for payment through electronic banking before or after each session.

For a map and details of the parking or public transport options, please check the Contact page.