Why might you seek art therapy?
Art therapy can be a helpful space for those experiencing anything from big emotional upheavals to quieter, everyday difficulties:
Everyday worries: anxiety, fear, nightmares, low mood
Emotional challenges: anger, bullying, school transitions, stress & burnout, relationship difficulties, identity & life transitions.
Deep support: trauma recovery, bereavement, family separation, grief & loss and identity.
Developmental needs: neurodivergence, emotional regulation, brain injury
The therapist holds and guides, but the client leads, all at their pace.
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Art therapy can be beneficial for individuals who may have difficulty expressing themselves verbally, such as those dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression or other mental health issues. It can help people of all ages to explore feelings, foster self-awareness, manage behaviour, develop social skills, increase self-esteem and facilitate personal growth.
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Art therapy is a scientifically recognised form of therapy. It has been shown to involve pathways in the brain that are part of sensory functions and motor skills. Specific parts of the brain involved in major functions of the body are improved by this type of therapy.
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Artwork is stored confidentially by the therapist and is suggested that all work is kept together to review with you when ready then take it all home on your last session. If taking your work home is more helpful for the client this can also be an option. For working online, you may wish to email an image of your artwork that you made on the session to your therapist.
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The therapist can help prompt you, the process can be guided on your feelings, thoughts and experiences. As you create art, the therapist will encourage you to explore your inner world and discuss your artwork. Through this dialogue, you can reflect on the feelings, memories and associations that arise during the creative process. The therapist will help you navigate and interpret your own creative process.
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Confidentiality is broken if the art therapist has concerns about the clients (or another person's) safety, she is legally obliged to contact the appropriate professionals. On these occasions she will speak to the client or parent of the client directly before acting but only if this will not put the client (or other person) in danger.
FAQs
mORE ABOUT ME
I hold an MSc in Art Psychotherapy from Queen Margaret University (2021). My lifelong connection to art shapes my belief that creativity is a powerful, non-verbal language — one that reaches the unconscious, supports regulation, and helps people express what words can’t.
My approach is grounded in psychodynamic thinking: gentle, depth-focused work that looks beneath the surface, exploring patterns, emotions, and experiences that may be influencing life today. I support clients to make meaning of their inner world at a pace that feels safe, using art as a bridge to insight and healing.
Find out more about my services here:
Angry joel, the boy who was hurt
In 2024, I created the artwork for Angry Joel, The Boy Who Was Hurt, a digital story developed with Heart Psychotherapy to support trauma-informed practice.
Joel’s story reflects the reality for many children whose challenging behaviour masks deep hurt. Misunderstood at school and carrying adverse experiences from birth, Joel was judged as “bad” long before anyone understood what he was living with.
The message is simple:
• We can’t assume anything about a child’s behaviour without knowing their story.
• All behaviour is communication. There is always something underneath.
When Joel finally had a safe adult to confide in — supported by his teacher, Miss Zain — everything shifted. With someone to hold his worries, he felt calmer, less overwhelmed, and no longer alone.