Rose Thorn

My practice as a therapist has evolved over twenty years and been shaped and informed by: the diverse clients that I have worked with; my supervisors, teachers and colleagues; being a client myself and my own lived experience.

Training

I originally trained as an Arts Therapist specialising in drama; I embrace these creative elements by supporting individuals to explore:

• through movement - connecting with one’s body
• with imagery and metaphor - making art, stories or writing
• using one’s voice - words, breath, listening and feeling one’s story
• engaging with objects or the natural world around us

I would describe my approach as working relationally – which means I am curious and open to what happens between us in the therapeutic relationship and I work in a trauma-informed way focusing on stabilisation and safety first.

Creative Supervision I have an Advanced Diploma in Counselling Supervision which was accredited by the National Counselling Society. I aim to cultivate a space to reflect and explore your practice in an embodied and felt sense or by using creative means.

Qualifications

I am registered as a Dramatherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and abide by their ethical framework.

I am a trained EMDR therapist and am a member of EMDR UK. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy can help relieve the symptoms and emotional distress that can result from disturbing life experiences and complex past traumas. Studying with Embodied-Relational Therapy has supported me to work somatically, with the body. 

I adopt an intersectional approach, which involves intentional exploration of the ways systemic privileges based on race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, and other aspects of identity affect the client, the therapist, and the therapeutic relationship.

I am a member of the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network and active with the Radical Therapy Network "dedicated to intersectional and anti-oppressive learning and therapeutic practice".

Experience

I have worked with people from many different backgrounds including:

• women who have experienced complex trauma, live with dissociation from domestic abuse and childhood sexual abuse
• adults who have experienced racialised trauma and exploring their identities 
• people with learning difficulties and autistic women

I have also worked in the following settings:

• the third sector - Women's Aid, foster care agencies, care homes, therapeutic artists community and arts projects within the community
• the NHS public health sector - psychiatric hospitals, a medium secure unit and a community learning difficulty team
• the education sector - special schools, colleges, pupil referral units and youth projects

This broad experience has given me an insight into how many of these institutions can pathologise clients and re-traumatise both clients, patients, service users and practitioners.

Ongoing professional development

I have completed numerous trainings that enable me to work skilfully and sensitively including:

• Somatic Therapy Training - Babette Rothschild
• Diploma in Embodied-Relational Therapy
• The Relational Nature of Shame in the Therapeutic Relationship
• Working with survivors of child sexual abuse; using arts interventions safely
• Awareness in Children & Young People’s Bereavement Care
• Working Creatively with Trauma Survivors
• Dissociation, Attachment Theory & Trauma
• The Challenge Of Racism In Therapeutic Practice
• Embodying Power and Difference in the Clinical Relationship