Art Psychotherapy encompasses a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches that are multi-modal, holistic, person-centered, integrative and dynamic. These approaches are adapted to best suit your needs and may include visual, tactile and symbolic art forms. I typically offer pastels, paints, collage, clay, fimo and visual prompts to guide your inquiry.
One of the approaches is Sensorimotor Art Therapy. This term describes art therapies that begin with engaging the senses, a ‘bottom-up’ brain approach rather than a cognitive ‘top-down’ brain approach. As the name implies, it focuses on the sense and motor function; how movement (muscles, viscera), heart-rate, body posture etc shape our sense of self and how we are in relationships.
The intention is to give the body an experience of safety (relaxed, connected etc), build awareness of body signals and then integrate this into the cognitive (giving words and meaning to your experience).
This approach may incorporate bi-lateral drawing (using both hands at the same time), following the bodies impulse rather than a preformed idea or therapist’s direction. Bi-lateral movement supports integration of both brain hemispheres (thinking and feeling brains) leading to self-regulation and trauma recovery.
Work at the Clay Field® is a psycho-physiological art therapy process that engages
the hands in a large flat box filled with smooth clay. This is also sensorimotor art therapy
that focuses on skin sense and haptic perception (language of touch/hand movement).
We first learn about the world through touch (in utero, as babies using their hands
to explore, toddlers with their pointer finger) and is the basis of secure attachment.
Work at the Clay Field® by-passes the ‘thinking’ brain and works directly
with pre-verbal development inc. impact of trauma and developmental gaps.
Who does it benefit?
The benefits of the therapeutic approaches detailed above, may support with social navigation, feelings identification and expression, sensory needs, regulation needs, executive function needs, connection and relationship development, strengths development, identity and self-worth, advocacy. These challenges and needs are not specific to one group of people but are often felt by neurodiverse individuals and those with adverse early life circumstances.
Art Psychotherapy
Play Therapy
It is often said that play is a child’s language - toys are used like words and combined with their play, this symbolic language can reveal much about a child’s experience including their response to it, their needs and self-perception. The therapist is the most important toy in the playroom as this relationship can provide safety to explore & express needs and model emotional regulation.
My play therapy approaches are influenced by child-centred models and Synergetic Play Therapy™. Synergetic Play Therapy™ (2008) is a researched-informed model of play therapy blending the therapeutic power of play with nervous system regulation, interpersonal neurobiology, physics, attachment, mindfulness, and therapist authenticity. Its primary play therapy influences are Child-Centered, Experiential,and Gestalt theories.
Counselling and Psychotherapy
Therapy is relational - The interpersonal relationship between client and therapist is fundamental to effective therapy. For this reason, its important you find a therapist and therapy style that best suits you and your needs.
I draw on your knowledge as ‘the expert of you’ and use a range of therapeutic interventions that both somatic (body-based) and expressive. This might work if you are interested in approaches that are beyond cognitive ‘talk-therapy’ styles. I may use some assessments but hold this information lightly and do not engage with diagnostic assessments.
Counselling may be broad or focused, short-term, long-term or a once-off.
It may be helpful if you are needing deep listening and guidance to form new perspectives, deeper understanding of self and presenting challenges, increased capacity to cope and regulate emotions