Elinor Rowlands

I warmly welcome you to my practitioner page. I strive to be an inviting, and inclusive space for individuals who are struggling to cope with their mental health and daily life. I am an anti-ableist arts psychotherapist and mentor.

As a diversity-inclusive psychotherapist, I work with all clients regardless of ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexuality, age, or disability.

I aim to support you to reduce your immediate anxiety and crisis, and together we shall create an environment where you feel relaxed enough to explore and develop your strengths, your skills, your resilience and coping mechanisms to continue your life journey.

I am available for short term and long term therapy and mentoring sessions. I also see trainee counsellors, psychotherapists and art psychotherapists. 

We can also use art materials when words are too difficult to express, and look at the images as a means of expression. Therapy is about understanding and supporting the person and it is important you feel relaxed and supported to express and explain.

My services address the access barriers that so often fail autistic and other neurodivergent individuals who encounter barriers to quality mental health support and access to therapies, mentoring and support. You do not have to identify as autistic or neurodivergent to access my services however it is important you know you are seeing an autistic person for therapy. 

I advocate for radical changes in the way we approach neurodivergent access in pedagogy, higher education, mental health services and therapy, and access in the arts. I am also a researcher and have been awarded a full scholarship to do my PhD. 

In therapy, the work I do with individuals is non behaviour based, person centred and I use methodologies and methods that respect human rights and sensory preferences of individuals that are non trauma inducing. I have supported young people to find their voice and their self expression through the arts, and using art therapy when words have been too difficult, and I have supported professionals and those out of employment for a long time to encounter and understand where they are on their life journey. 

I am a frequent writer and advocate for social justice, autistic/neurodivergent access and disability rights. I am also studying a PhD in autism and the arts. 

Mentoring is a little different to therapy as it is more practical and we focus on time management, organisation strategies and this can be particularly helpful for individuals in employment or who might require a little more input on suggestions to identify and reduce access barriers. I mentor professionals across various fields including medicine, the arts, psychology and science. 

Some people approach me for a mix of both. This is also possible. 

About you

You do not need to have a formal diagnosis of autism or ADD/ADHD to access these services. Nor do you have to be neurodivergent or identify as such.

You might not conform to a specific gender and you might not have the words to describe your identity.

You might or might not be a parent but the stress of trying for a baby or having a child is taking its toll. You might want support with identifying your true self.

You might feel lost, confused, excluded and might be in need of some guidance or simply a kind and listening ear.

You might experience barriers at work and be looking for an employment coach/mentor.
You might be an art psychotherapist/counselling trainee seeking a neurodivergent art psychotherapist to have weekly therapy with.

In our sessions it’s important you experience autonomy, respect and support.

Testimonials: 

Psychotherapy: 

"Elinor has been completely transformative for our family. We were first seeing her for strategies to support us with our autistic children, and to be able to better understand their needs, and now we continue to see Elinor because we have realised that we also have our own needs, we are now pursuing diagnoses for ourselves. She’s been so eye-opening and so supportive.”

- T. C. Family Therapy, 2022-ongoing

“Thank you so much for our session this evening, I really found your approach so interesting and refreshing! It put me at ease straight away. Also thank you for being so kind with your words, such a rare thing to find nowadays. Once again thank you!”

- N.L. Art Psychotherapy Client, 2022-ongoing 

"Thank you so much for supporting me to leave my job, it was the best thing for me, and now I feel so much more free to pursue my own interests on my terms. I look forward to the future." 

- Short Term psychotherapy client, 2022 

"Elinor supported me through sick leave and returning to work. She helped me find the terminology I needed in order to have meetings with my managers and the occupational psychotherapist in ways where I felt empowered and like I had a voice. I thought I'd have to leave and it was too overwhelming but she helped each week with breaking steps down and I felt so supported throughout the process. I find our therapy sessions so powerful, and she's so kind. I really enjoy my therapy sessions with Elinor." 

- G.H. (Psychotherapy client) 2023 - ongoing 

“Elinor continues to go beyond. I was hesitant to see someone much younger than me, but our discussions have always opened my mind up to seeing things in a very different light. I feel lifted after my sessions with Elinor.”

 - Retired Doctor, (Sees Elinor for therapy, bereavement and support with retirement), 6 March 2022

Mental Health Mentoring

“Love her so much! I really enjoy the sessions! Because of her I went for an autistic assessment and finally my diagnosis has helped me to communicate better with my employers!”
- S.H. Mentee (Nursing), 2020

"I really enjoy my mentoring sessions with Elinor, I feel so seen and heard, I've been telling everyone about her because she always gives me wonderful things to think about. I feel moved on after our sessions." - Professional live artist and academic, (Sees Elinor for employment mentoring) 2022

“Ms Elinor Rowlands has been exceptional. An amazingly patient, sincere and honest person, she offers something I have only seen in a very rare few. Elinor is an understanding, self -esteem booster and essentially a tutor who helps you assemble the learning blocks to achieve to your potential. It has been challenging at times, Elinor has done nothing but empathise and actively help me. Truly a remarkable tutor. I can not wait to continue 'trial and errors' and eventually acquire the tools to succeed in HE.”
- F. J., University student (Performing Arts), 2020

“She's amazing I couldn't ask for a better mentor and study skills helper!!”

- Adam, photography and design student, 23 November 2018

"I had severe depression throughout university and had to take a year out. They gave me a mentor for my final year and Elinor's sessions were so powerful. She really respected boundaries and was so caring towards me. I looked forward to our sessions and I ended up graduating with a first. I owe my degree and my mental health to Elinor, she was the tonic I needed to get through my final year." - Amy, 2017. 

“The new system is very interesting, getting used to it but it makes sense. It's been helpful in seeing this method and applying it to my essay writing. Seeing my marks get higher and higher shows me that when study skills are taught properly and applied properly that it works. Elinor’s systems and her strategies do work!”
- J.P., Biology Student, 5 January 2020

“She's amazing so helpful couldn't do this without her!”
- Jay, Mental Health Nursing student, 11 May 2021

Arts Mentoring 

“Thanks so much for this Elinor, I’ve worked and also done several good human things today like eating and going to the shop so I think you have a good affect on me!”
- (Employment mentoring with Elinor), Live Artist and Creative Producer, 2022

Women's issues 

Neurodivergence and pluralism 

The experience of being "othered" 

Autism and ADHD 

• £80.00 per session (55 minutes)
• £60 per session for trainee art psychotherapists or trainee counsellors. 
• £80.00 for an art psychotherapy session 
• £100 for couples therapy or for an extended art psychotherapy session. 
• I currently only offer sessions online or over the phone. 
• I do not offer free sessions or complimentary calls and I am not in a position to offer this. Due to my own costs and overheads, each session is at the cost listed above. I offer reduced rates to unemployed or people on low income.  Please get in touch. 

I only offer online therapy at the present moment (I use Zoom or Skype). 

Telephone can also work if it is over whatsapp.