About me
I am an HCPC registered Art Psychotherapist and Psychotherapist with an MA in Art Psychotherapy. I am also certified in a trauma informed approach through the use of Yoga and EMDR tools to help you regulate your nervous system and to embody self-compassion and a felt-sense of safety. I offer 1:1 sessions with adults or young people and I am based in South Wales but offer online sessions for clients living further away in the UK. My aim is to help you to regain your self-esteem, confidence, trust and independence; to understand yourself at a deeper level to move forwards towards a happier and healthier future.
I am psychodynamically trained and combine the theories and methods of this approach with artmaking, mindfulness, yoga, and mind/body work allowing for an integrative practice. My aim is to help you regain your sense of safety, self-esteem, confidence, trust and independence. I will never impose judgement and I am committed to helping you to explore, regain or discover your identity and place in the world, through self-reflection, mind-body practices, artmaking and conversation. I am fully trained to help you use these creative and somatic processes as an opportunity to grow or make changes.
Psychodynamic theories focus on how we learn to relate to the world, how we relate to ourselves and how the world relates back to us. Our first experiences of the world, within the primary relationships and the environment you first experienced when very young have a strong impact on how we continue to experience ourselves and others. We take these experiences with us, internalise beliefs and coping strategies and evolve in the world with attachment styles and learnt ways of relating. Often, our unconscious can hold onto painful experiences causing us to develop various defences which can inhibit future relationships. Sometimes, through the effects of trauma later on in life, we can develop these unhealthy ways of relating for fear of being hurt again. For this reason, psychodynamic psychotherapy/art psychotherapy can work particularly well with people who have lost meaning to their lives, who are unsure of their identity or have difficulty forming or maintaining healthy relationships.
I am very much client led which means that you get to choose how your sessions look and the pace we go. There may be sessions where you would prefer to just talk, or explore and connect mind and body through breathing and meditation or you might prefer to allow the artmaking to take the lead.
By just 'seeing what happens' as I often say, it enables the unconscious to come to the surface through your artmaking. Your artwork then provides a platform to work from and through further exploration, artmaking and conversation, we can begin to discover the deep roots of your feelings and difficulties.
I also believe that we hold our emotions physically and that we can develop pain or discomfort in our bodies as a result of trauma or emotional upset. Our nervous systems can become stuck in a state of shut down or hyper-arousal due to overwhelm during traumatic times or traumatic relationships and this can significantly impinge on our day to day lives. I often use mindfulness, focusing, breathing techniques and movement to help you to become more self-aware, connecting mind, body and soul as one whole and to empower you with the tools to be able to recognise what your body needs in order to regulate your nervous system for yourself.
Being open to self-reflection, self-exploration and a having a natural curiosity for your internal world can enable you to move forward in a healthier and happier direction. The choice is yours as to what you feel comfortable exploring within any session and which methods you are open to trying. I am very client led and tailor the sessions to suit your needs and to create safety in choice.
If any of this resonates with you, please feel warmly welcome to contact me for further information. Please don't feel you need to hide from the world with your difficulties. Reach out to someone who understands the complexities of life and who will listen sensitively to your story, offering you guidance and support.
With warmest wishes,
Vicky
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a HCPC and BAAT registered Art Psychotherapist and Psychotherapist with an MA in Art Psychotherapy. I am also certified in a trauma informed approach through the use of Yoga and EMDR tools to help you regulate your nervous system and to embody self-compassion and a felt-sense of safety.
Prior to qualifying as an Art Psychotherapist, I was a Primary School Teacher for 12 years, a Piano Teacher and a Self-employed registered Childminder for 2 years. I have also been a lecturer in mental health for the Open University.
As an Art Psychotherapist and Psychotherapist, I am self-employed and work with a wide range of clients. I work with adults and young people and I provide weekly 1:1 sessions at Magnolia - Centre for Health and Wellbeing in Neath but also offer online sessions for clients living further away. I have worked with people struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, bereavement, trauma, eating disorders, personality disorders, relationship difficulties, neuro-diversity and identity to name just a few.
I have also worked within Pupil Referral Units and schools, offering Art Psychotherapy to pupils who struggle with anxiety, emotional regulation, anger difficulties, suppressed emotions, bereavement, body image and low self-esteem. I worked with parents from these schools too.
In the past, I have provided Art Psychotherapy in organisations such as colleges, schools and charities for 'Wellbeing Days'. I have also provided weekly group sessions for adults in various community centres, charities and other organisations.
Previously, as an Art Psychotherapist, I have worked within the NHS, Secondary Care in Adult Mental Health and also on a ward for older adults.
I have found working with all of my clients a privilege and I have made it my aim to become attuned to each and every one of them in order to engage fully within the therapeutic relationship with them, enable them to feel heard and to authentically empathise with their individual stories through their art-making, self-reflecting and verbal communication. I want to empower my clients to find a happier and healthier path and for them to strengthen their self-belief and sense of safety to move forward independently.
Most importantly I place you, the client, at the centre, learning from and understanding your individual needs.
I have Professional Indemnity Insurance and I have an up to date DBS certificate.
HCPC Registered Art Psychotherapist.
My qualifications:
MA Art Psychotherapy
PGCE Primary
BA Honours History of Art
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Psychotherapy
Counselling
Art Psychotherapy
Trauma Informed Yoga
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Private Practice at Magnolia- Centre for Health and Wellbeing
1:1 sessions (for adults or young people) 1 hour £65
Please contact me for prices for organisations or schools. Please note, I am not always in a position to provide a service outside of my 1:1 private practice due to availability.
