About me
I am an Integrative Arts Psychotherapist and Counsellor based in Dulwich and I work with adults, adolescents and children. Art therapy can help with emotional, relational and behavioural difficulties that may be difficult to verbalise.
There are many different life issues which bring people into therapy and it can be a daunting process finding the right therapist. Central to my work is the relationship between client and therapist. I provide a safe, confidential space with warmth, acceptance and respect.
As we build a relationship together I will offer supportive invitations to use the arts to explore your emotional and psychological experiences. We will work together to find constructive ways forwards for you on your personal journey of growth and psychological change.
‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life’ Pablo Picasso
Art Psychotherapy
Art Psychotherapy can help with problems that may be difficult to verbalise. Many psychological issues are multi-layered, and we often learn to skilfully avoid core feelings. The arts can help identify, connect-to and experience emotions on a deep non-verbal level.
‘Art can permeate the very deepest part of us, where no words exist’ Eileen Miller
The Art Part: Do you need to be good at art?
No artistic skill is required. In fact artistic skill can be a challenge to overcome when using the Arts on a psychotherapeutic journey. It is not important what the ‘image’ looks like but what it represents to you, how you felt while you were making it and the links we make together, over time, between the images. Maybe it is a scribble on a scrap of paper; a scrunched up bit of tissue paper; a lump of clay thrown down on the table ‘thunk’; a particular puppet that always seems to draw your attention; a song that holds specific meaning to you; a poem; stories; films; music; the noise of a creaking door in the hall; a leaf you picked up; a postcard…
I will offer the arts in a supportive way, always working with you to find non-verbal expression you feel contained and supported by and, above all, safe.
‘The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance’ Aristotle
The Psychotherapy Part: Integrated Psychotherapy Theory
Psychological healing and growth is not a linear process and can be challenging, similar to embarking on a journey. There can be challenges and obstacles along the way. I work, integrating many models of theory which provides flexibility to grow and adapt the therapeutic work as the journey unfolds, working together to find the right way forwards for you.
‘The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth’ Laozi
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a UKCP and HCPC registered Integrative Arts Psychotherapist and a registered member MBACP. I work within the ethical codes of practice of the organisations of which I am a member and registered with.
My registrations:
- UKCP and HCPC registered
- Registered member MBACP
My qualifications:
- MA in Integrative Arts Psychotherapy
- Diploma in Child Counselling
- Children's Accelerated Trauma Treatment (CATT) Level One & Two
- Certificate in The Emotional Needs of the Child
- Diploma in Therapeutic and Educational Application of the Arts
My professional memberships:
- UKCP
- BACP
- BAAT
- IATE
I have a portable DBS.
Previous to my psychotherapy training I worked as a packaging designer. My first degree was in graphic design and I bring over 25 years experience of working within creative environments. Since retraining my experience of working psychotherapeutically, using the creative process to facilitate change and help re-establish psychological growth, has been: with children as part of the Kids Company schools programme (primary and secondary); with adults in an award winning psychodynamic NHS clinic for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse; with adolescents in a secondary school in South Croydon; with adults as part of Dimbleby Cancer Care within an NHS hospital; as well as with private clients of all ages.
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.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I am neurodivergent, and a parent of neurodivergent children (now adults). I have much experience of working with neurodivergent clients both young people and adults and although I have tried to avoid this becoming my specialism it was always inevitable, especially the intersection between trauma and neurodivergence and how to work with this clinically.
Therapies offered
Fees
£110.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I charge £110 a session. Some concessions are available; we could discuss this in an introductory session.
I would suggest we meet for an introductory session. This will be an opportunity for you to discuss what has brought you to therapy, and what you wish to achieve on your journey. I will ask some practical information about yourself and explain the way I work in more detail. An introductory session is about finding out if you would like to work with me, and if I offer the right way of working for you. It is my belief that this can only be achieved by meeting and I recommend meeting with a few therapist in order to find the right 'fit' for you.
If you would like us to work together, we will arrange a regular 50 minute session at the same time each week.
