About me
Hello and welcome,
You might be here because something doesn’t feel right.
Maybe you feel overwhelmed by a situation in your life or feel you’ve lost touch with who you are.
Perhaps you are a parent who is concerned about how your child is feeling at the moment.
Sometimes things simply feel too heavy to carry on our own. My role is to help lighten that load a little, by providing a warm, confidential and non-judgmental space to work through these feelings alongside you or your young person, at your/their own pace.
Who I am
My name is Myriam, and I am a English and Arabic speaking, registered drama therapist supporting children (5+), teenagers and adults 1:1 in-person in Central Cambridge and online, to process feelings and experiences using creative resources, alongside talking therapy.
The common areas I work with are trauma, navigating change, identity issues, cultural & religious abuse, anxiety, burnout, hopelessness, isolation, fear, anger, shame, loss, sadness, sleep disturbances, PTSD, CPTSD, depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation. If there is another area of support not listed, please do still reach out and we can discuss suitability. I welcome and work with people from all backgrounds and experiences.
Experiences I specialise in:
Faith & Spirituality: Drawing from my experience of identifying as Muslim in the UK, I create a safe, culturally aware, non-judgmental, therapeutic environment where you or your child can explore their Islamic faith or other religious/non-religious beliefs, identities and cultural experiences.
Work Burnout: Having worked for many years in NGO/charity sector, I understand the risks of stress, burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma in high pressure work environments.I often work with people who feel they have poured themselves out for others and lost touch with a part of themselves.
Migration: Drawing from nine years working with refugees and asylum seekers, I am accustomed to working with individuals how have experienced forced/non-forced migration, adapting to a new environment, early childhood trauma and emotional dysregulation.
How I work
Drama therapy does not mean acting or performing. Instead, it’s about using creativity and imagination to explore experiences that are hard to put into words. Not having to rely on words, makes this therapy particularly accessible to children and offers people of all ages an alternative way to explore emotions, relationships and experiences.
Tools I use in my practice include play, images, drama exercises, art and crafts, story-telling and making, breathwork, grounding techniques, emotional regulation exercises, stretching, visualization, movement, masks, puppets, letter/script writing, voice and improvisation.
For others, simply talking is enough. I adapt how I work to you or your child.
What is particularly unique about drama therapy is that it offers a space to experiment. Together, we might explore different ways of being, practice having difficult conversations, or try out new ways of managing emotions and responding to challenges. Therapy with me can be a kind of rehearsal space for life.
Next steps
If you would like to get in touch please feel free to send a short email or a text on Whatsapp.
Please ask if you need some flexibility on the fee as I have a limited number of reduced fee spaces. I am happy to discuss.
We will then arrange a free, initial 30-minute conversation by phone or video, at a time that suits you or your young person to get to know each other, explain how I work, explore what you are looking for and discuss whether therapy with me would be a good fit.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
- MA Training in Dramatherapy, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge
- MA International Relations, University College Dublin, Ireland
- BA Contemporary Culture and Society, Dublin City University, Ireland
Experience
As well as being a drama therapist, I have been working with refugees and asylum seekers in the capacity of a caseworker, psycho-social support worker, and Arabic-speaking interpreter for almost a decade, both in the UK and internationally. I first discovered creative therapies in 2018 while working in a refugee camp in Greece. I co-facilitated a group with young people who created non-fictional stories based on their own experiences. I was struck by how much they were able to express through creativity, and how light and alive they felt afterwards. It reminded me of my own experience in drama groups, and how cathartic connecting with others, playing, and creating can be. Read more about this project: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/many-of-the-children-in-the-refugee-camp-already-have-hope-they-just-need-to-hold-on-to-it-1.3597314
Or watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6lVZ569wsk
Since then, I am now a fully qualified drama therapist working at Play For Progress, an art therapy organisation supporting young asylum seekers and refugees with their emotional health. I run both individual and group sessions, both in English and Arabic.
I have guest lectured at educational provisions such as Anglia Ruskin University and the Tavistock on delivering drama therapy to refugees and have co-authored on the following publication on the same topic:
https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/dj_00046_1
I also design therapeutic toolkits for humanitarian organizations working in conflict zones.
I have personal and professional experience with neurodiversity. My thesis topic was about supporting individuals on the autism spectrum with their self-expression, social interaction, and emotional regulation using drama therapy.
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
Fees
£60.00 - £70.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My standard in-person fee at a therapy room in Central Cambridge is £70 per 1-hour session.
Online sessions are £60 per 1-hour sessions
I offer a limited number of reduced-fee slots. Please enquire for availability.
When I work
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In September, my availability will also expand to Tuesday mornings and Wednesdays so do not hesitate to reach out if those times work better for you.
Further information
I regularly facilitate community groups across a set number of weeks, in Cambridge for adults to explore themes such as balance, introspection, and loneliness in creative ways. These groups are not explicitly therapy however, they are a way to get a taste of how drama therapy works and an opportunity to learn more about yourself and others.
Reach out if you are interested in learning about when the next group is running.
Testimonial from community group:
"Even in a group of people I had only briefly met, Myriam created an incredibly safe and welcoming space. She has a gentle way of guiding you to uncover and express deep thoughts and feelings you didn't even realize you were holding onto" - Arwa, group participant
"Myriam has been a kind, open-hearted, and patient therapist in the several sessions that I had with her. I felt I had the space to be listened to and open up. With her sensitivity to faith and spirituality, she also was sensitive to my background as a convert to Islam.” - Anon, group participant
