Emma Thatcher, MA, HCPC, BAAT Registered
About me
Hi, I'm Emma. I am a qualified Art Psychotherapist, currently offering sessions online. I provide a safe and creative space for mental health support, self-exploration and growth.
Art Psychotherapy uses a mixture of talking and art-making in the sessions. It combines the usual practices of talking therapy - a safe confidential space to discuss what may be troubling you - with the possibility of using creativity to give further insight. Sometimes people like to paint, draw, use collage, clay, writing, poetry, photography, music or found objects. As we will be working online, I will support you to use art materials you may have in the home to create images.
By also using the arts, it is possible to explore emotional issues in a different, sometimes deeper way, one that words alone may not allow. You do not need to be an artist to benefit from this, just drawn to the idea of expressing yourself creatively or using symbols and metaphor. I will encourage you to be curious and reflective about what you create. Together we can explore what might best support your wellbeing. You can read more about art therapy here: https://www.baat.org/About-Art-Therapy
People start art therapy for many different reasons. You may feel dissatisfied, worried or sad, want to explore the past, process difficult events, or achieve goals. I have experience of helping with a range of issues, from common life problems, through depression, anxiety, panic attacks, trauma and experiences of unstable mood.
I work in an Integrative way; this means I use ideas from different therapeutic frameworks depending on individual need.
This includes:
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapy - how our past, unconscious processes and repeating relational patterns impact us.
- Humanistic (Person-Centred and Gestalt influenced) Psychotherapy - our experience and self-actualisation in the ‘here-and-now’.
I believe questions of purpose, freedom, meaning, and how we manage life-stages are also important and am happy to explore clients’ existential and spiritual needs if desired.
My style is empathetic and warm, with an awareness of how identity, difference and social context impact experience. My therapy is supportive of LGBTQ+ issues and alternative relationships and lifestyles.
Please get in touch if you would like to know more.
Training, qualifications & experience
Registered Art Therapist (Health Care Professions Council: reg. no. AS16754).
BAAT (British Association of Art Therapists) registered.
IATE registered. Trainee member of UKCP.
MA in Arts Psychotherapy from the Institute for the Arts in Therapy and Education (Distinction).
I currently work in private practice. I am accredited with the HCPC and follow their standards of ethics and confidentiality and have regular supervision with an HCPC registered supervisor. I am fully insured, registered with the ICO and in-compliance with GDPR.
I also have three years of experience as an honorary arts psychotherapist in the NHS, in inpatient and outpatient services, seeing both individuals and groups. I also have experience in a community mental health setting, working as an honorary counsellor for MIND.
I have a previous background in photography, arts and heritage, the charity sector and user-led mental health.
Member organisations
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.

Health and Care Professions Council
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
LGBTQ issues
Therapies offered
Fees
Sessions are £50-65 dependent on income. I think therapy should be accessible to all and so I also have a limited number of lower-cost sessions available for those on low incomes. Please do ask about availability.