Do you need other ways of expression in therapy than sitting and talking - in order to make true sense of your experiences? How to tell the story of You when words are not enough? Have you always been sensitive to images, colour, music or anything that is outside the spoken word?
I am a creative integrative counsellor providing a safe and non judgemental space for you to reach your inner experiences beyond expressing them verbally. You don't need any artistic or creative skills to benefit from this form of therapy - the resources are already in you - we will work together...
Do you need other ways of expression in therapy than sitting and talking - in order to make true sense of your experiences? How to tell the story of You when words are not enough? Have you always been sensitive to images, colour, music or anything that is outside the spoken word?
I am a creative integrative counsellor providing a safe and non judgemental space for you to reach your inner experiences beyond expressing them verbally. You don't need any artistic or creative skills to benefit from this form of therapy - the resources are already in you - we will work together on activating the right side of the brain responses, as well as your body response. My priority is to create a safe space for you to feel understood and able to process what you need.
I specialise in working with neurodivergent clients (Autism, ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome, ASD, sensory processing issues and much more) who struggle to verbalise their feelings in therapy and those who need to use something else other than just talking. Many of my clients come to creative therapy when they have used more traditional approaches and felt it was not fully allowing them to express themselves or reach the depth of connection with their own feelings. I am a neurodivergent therapist myself and since 2015 have been working with therapeutic creative expression on a one to one and group basis. I work with adults, young people and children - so each session is tailored to the individual needs of the client.
I am a trauma informed creative counsellor and offer a safe way of working through trauma, based on working in somatic, integrative and re-training the nervous system response way. I work in both ways- somatic based therapy (how your body is affected by trauma response) and cognitive way (helping you to understand how your thoughts and feelings are impacted).
I provide a broad approach including work with the impact of childhood, trauma, attachment issues, relational issues, identity formation (parts of Self and how they play their roles in us), existential issues and complex inner child work.
For some people creative therapy is more effective as arts and creativity connects with deeper material in us. Complexities of life like grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, relationships issues and much more are sometimes difficult to describe and that is when art and creativity can help. I want to fully understand you so we can together see where we go next.
How do we work together?
What happens in creative therapy?
Sessions are not scripts - they are dynamic and responsive to your needs. In our sessions we will explore what issues you would like to bring and which form of creativity may work for you. You do not need any art skills as we can work with: colour, clay, drawing, painting, collage, abstracts, sand tray, objects, active imagination, story writing and story telling, visualisation, active imagination, toys and puppets, elements of psycho drama, reflective journaling, sensory toys, and work with fabrics.
I am a professional member and trainer at Creative Counsellors Association and a practitioner member of Association for Person Centred Creative Arts. I own certificates of Therapeutic Arts, L4 Clay Therapy and are registered with BACP. as fully insured and qualified therapeutic counsellor.
Find out more about my approach at www.artlysing.com
