About me
Who I support
I am a Sheffield based Art Psychotherapist currently supporting adults and young people over the age of 18. I support those experiencing burn out, education or work-related stress, difficulties relating to perfectionism, depression/low mood, anxiety and anxiety disorders such as OCD, low self-esteem, impacts of abuse & trauma, attachment and relationship difficulties, and grief and loss. I have experience supporting those who have been in the care system or adopted, neurodivergent individuals, and individuals who are gender questioning, fluid, dysphoric or going through a gender transition. I'm particularly interested in life transitions, including those connected to hormonal health and cycles.
I also offer support and consultation for parents/carers navigating challenges around their children’s mental health and/or educational needs, particularly where accessing appropriate support services has been difficult. This could be ongoing support or a 1-1 of consultation.
What I offer
I offer 1-1 in-person and online (Zoom) sessions. In person sessions are at my therapy room at Remedy House, Broomhall.
I also offer a range of creative well-being workshops and therapeutic groups at my community art studio, Studio Comunità in Walkley. Please see here for more information: https://alexcreativetherapies.co.uk/groups-and-workshops/
How Support Clients
I use a person-centred, trauma-informed and integrative approach. This means working flexibly and collaboratively to adapt the therapy to best meet your specific needs, as I get to know you. I understand how important it is for therapy to feel flexible, personalised, and free from pressure to fit a certain way of thinking or expressing; therefore, I use a client led approach and support the use of art-making and creativity in diverse ways to best support your needs. Overall I aim to support you to feel safe, empowered and in control of the therapy, always taking things at your pace.
Core principles of compassion/kindness, paying attention to the present moment and (re-) connecting with our bodies are threaded through how I work. I also do 'inner child' work and am trauma-informed.
What an Art Therapy session looks like
You can use each session how you feel on the day – this may include a mixture of art-making and talking, some days you may wish just to chat or some days make art without any verbal dialogue at all. I can offer gentle guidance on art-making activities, if that is needed, and we can also make art together.
I can also offer a range of grounding and mindfulness-based exercizes to support transitioning in or out of therapy, for relaxation and/or supporting gently checking in to see what feelings, thoughts and physical sensations are around.
I will be led by what ever you need on the day and if you are not sure we can think about that together.
How it can help
Art Therapy can offer a space to pause, reflect and make sense of your experiences in creative ways, which don’t always need to rely on words. Sometimes it can be easier to express or explore things through images, colour, or making. Art making can also be a way to help us feel more relaxed, grounded and connected with our bodies whilst we explore difficult things.
You don’t need any artistic skill or experience. There’s no pressure to create anything “good” — it’s about the process, not the outcome.
It can support:
- Building confidence & self-esteem
- Expressing, understanding and processing our emotions and experiences
- Building trusting, positive, healthy relationships
- Strengthening a sense of self/identity
- Developing social and emotional skills
- Developing self-awareness and understanding
- Fostering hope, mental well-being and resilience
- (Re-)connecting our mind and body
- Help to access and sooth our nervous system
Reaching Out
If you are feeling things are a bit of a struggle at the moment, and are wondering whether you might need some support then please get in touch either by email: alex@alexcreativetherapies.co.uk or give me a text or call on 07363039842 for a chat, I’d love the hear from you.
Reaching out for help is often the first big step, and can often feel scary, so well done for reaching this point!
Training, qualifications & experience
Professional Qualifications
I hold a Health and Care Professions Counsel-accredited MA in Art Psychotherapy (2018-2020), as well as an British Psychological Society accredited MSc in Psychology (2012-2014).
What I have learned from my studies
Through my study I have developed a strong understanding human development. Something that interests me greatly is how our early life experiences influence our current experience. I have also always had an interest in how creativity can help to break down barriers, help us to connect with ourselves and the world around us, express and understand things and ultimately feel well. I conducted research during my MSc into how creative and practical skills education impacted students self-perceptions and ability to regulate their emotions.
Continued professional development
Through my professional work and continued professional development I have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in areas such as trauma and attachment, including impacts of being in the care system or adopted, neurodiversity and how growing up in non-neurodiverse affirming systems (such as, mainstream education) can impact our mental health and lead to burnout, and more recently the significance of our mind-body connection and how the 'women's health gap' has such a pervasive and negative impact on women's health and wellbeing. These are all areas which I am passionate about and wish to support those impacted by them.
Prior experience
Prior to training as an Art Psychotherapist I worked in a range of supportive roles in education and the community. I have worked as a teaching assistant, youth worker and pastoral care in both mainstream and specialist education, programme co-ordinator and SEN-co for an alternative post-16 education provider, as well as creative community projects providing creative clubs for children. This work has significantly shaped how I work as an Art Psychotherapist; taking time to build trust in the relationship, recognising each individual's uniqueness and using creativity to break down barriers and improve mental health and wellbeing.
Art Psychotherapy experience
Since qualifying as Art Psychotherapist 6 years ago, I have worked with both children, young people, adults and families across a range of settings including schools and colleges, children’s residential care, private therapy services, and the NHS Adult Gender Identity Service.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Additional information
I offer a free 30 minute phone consultation explore working together.
I currently offer online sessions on Tuesdays and in-person sessions on Fridays.
Further information
I am an LBGTQ+ ally and support those who are gender questioning, fluid or going through a gender transition.
I hold full HCPC registration (Arts Therapies- Art Psychotherapist) and full British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) membership.
I also run a small community studio in Walkley, Studio Comunità. My aim here is to break down barriers to, and support community engagement in, art and creativity to support well-being.
