Tess Brooks

Working with me

As a therapist, I offer the people I work with a safe, confidential, supportive, and non-judgmental space that can help to creatively explore and talk about life events, past or present. Building a meaningful relationship with those I work with can help to facilitate new perspectives and insights that will bring about a sense of acceptance, or even re-evaluate, situations or feelings.

At the heart of my work, I value individuals and I work in a person-centered way. This means I will adapt my skills and the way I work to each individual and listen to each person to understand what is needed from art therapy sessions.

My psychotherapeutic approach is integrative, incorporating psychodynamic, person-centred, cognitive behavioural, art therapy, and somatic therapeutic theory and models. Person-centred which is based on the idea that everyone has what they need to heal. Psychodynamic principles of how past experiences and relationships can affect how we respond in the present. Cognitive behavioural models which look at the relationship between thoughts and feelings. Somatic art therapy explores the connection between the mind and body through movement, body awareness, mindfulness, and making. Enabling the release of energy to process experiences and feelings.

What is Art Therapy like?

Art therapy is a creative and accessible form of psychotherapy that uses art, art materials, and the creative process as a way of communicating and exploring thoughts, feelings, and experiences alongside talking with the art therapist. Using a simple colour, shape, or chosen/found object to represent a challenge that you are facing, can make it feel more concrete, tangible, and practical, something that is not just inside you, but is something physical that you can look at, think about, and reflect on differently. This can be especially useful if you are feeling stuck or are finding it difficult to find words to describe the challenge you are facing.

What happens in a session will be led by you and what you need. In each session, I will invite you to select what art materials you would like to use from those provided in the studio, and what you would like to focus on. It is ok to have sessions where you do not feel like talking, or where you do not feel inspired to create anything. We will start from where you want to begin.

You do not need to know much about art materials, have any previous experience with art, have any particular skills, or be ‘good’ at art, to make use of art therapy. 

How do I start?

If you want to find out if Art Psychotherapy is for you, then please contact me either by email, or telephone, and I will offer you an initial session.

This initial appointment will be an opportunity for us to meet, and for you to decide if Art Psychotherapy is right for you and if you feel comfortable working with me.

My in-person practice is based in a wheelchair-accessible studio in Ledbury.