Eilidh (Elle) Gilbertson

Aberdeen, AB21

About me

Hello, my name is Elle and I am an HCPC registered art therapist, and my services include one to one online art therapy with children, families, young people and adults.

Quite often, I am asked what art therapy is by those curious to know more. Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy which uses the arts and creativity, as well as talking, to support mental health. It can be really useful to communicate non-verbally and it can be an excellent modality to work with a variety of concerns such as:

Anxiety,
Sadness
Grief and loss
Trauma
Stress
Overwhelming emotions
Self-esteem
Stuck feelings

The art therapy session can create a safe space to explore experiences and make meaning from life events and feelings, gaining insight.
The best part is there is no requirement to be good at art, even though some do find the practice of making inspiring and continue to make beyond the therapy room. In art therapy the art making has a different role, for example, to help communicate feelings and experiences, or support emotional regulation. Some sessions may involve more art-making, and some sessions may be mainly or only talking depending on the needs of the client. As art therapist, I am experienced in supporting those attending with the process of getting started with art therapy and art making.

I consider the therapeutic relationship to be of central importance in therapy and aim to make the experience collaborative and tailored to the needs of each individual who attends, adult or child.

I hold a diploma in online therapy, which has equipped me with the theory and practice to create a safe and supportive experience with those attending my online art therapy sessions.

My services include:

Individual Art Psychotherapy for:

Children
Young people
Parents and carers
Art Therapists and counsellors

Supervision for:

Art Psychotherapists
Therapists and counsellors

Workplace wellbeing programmes:

Groups and teams
Corporate sector organisations
Third sector organisations and charities

If you would like to find out more about how I can support you in your aims for therapy, send me an email to arrange an initial chat, I'd love to hear from you.

You can also find out more about me and my approach on my website www.ellegilbertson.com.

Training, qualifications & experience

I have been studying and practicing counselling and psychotherapy since 2014 and completed my masters in Art Psychotherapy with distinction in 2017.

For ten years I've been walking my own personal healing journey, discovering the impact of the modalities I deliver to support my own physical and emotional health.

I have my own private online Art Therapy practice where I see adults and children, in addition to my freelance work for charity organisations. My clinical experience includes working with adults and children with chronic illness in the NHS and in my role as a freelance Art Therapist I work with children in groups and individually within the education sector.

I hold specialist expertise in online therapy, dyadic work with children and their families, and with individuals who experience chronic illness. I also have experience supporting clients with grief and loss, self-esteem issues, self-harm. I consider working to foster resilience and coping strategies a core element of the therapeutic process.

My central aim in my practice is to empower individuals to make therapeutic progress through art making as well as talking within a safe and collaborative therapeutic relationship. I take a trauma informed approach and integrate creative and embodied practices within therapeutic sessions making the experience well suited to those seeking to recover from anxiety, trauma or stress.