Vicky Procter
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This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am an HCPC registered Art Psychotherapist and Psychotherapist with an MA in Art Psychotherapy. I offer individual sessions with adults, older adults, children and young people. 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.
As a Psychotherapist and Art Psychotherapist, I am psychodynamically trained and combine the theories and methods of this practice with mindfulness and person-centred therapies. My aim is to help you unravel, experience and understand your true feelings in order to be at peace with them.
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.
Art Psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy which involves art making and conversation. Creativity comes from the same side of the brain as our emotions and so the two are very much linked, enabling expressive artwork from anyone to come from the unconscious, whether or not you believe you are skilled at art. I am very much client led so if you wish to just talk all session then this is absolutely fine. Equally, if there are some sessions where you wish to create art with very little talking, then this is fine too. The sessions are for you and therefore I adapt to how you need them to be in order to move forward positively in your life.
I am extremely passionate about Art Psychotherapy helping people with their difficulties because it allows you to explore the use of the art materials with no judgement. By just 'seeing what happens' as I often say, it enables the unconscious to come to the surface through your artwork whether or not you believe you are skilled at art. 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 never impose judgement and I am committed to helping you understand your art for yourself. I am fully trained to help you use the creative process as an opportunity to grow or make changes.
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. I often use mindfulness and focusing techniques to help you to become more self-aware, connecting mind, body and spirit as one whole.
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. Using mindfulness, focusing, artmaking or reflective conversation, I can help you to explore your unconscious.
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.
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 psychology for the last year 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. I have worked with people struggling with depression, anxiety, bereavement, eating disorders, personality disorders, anger issues, relationship difficulties 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 offered Art Psychotherapy to clients suffering from eating disorders, low self-esteem, bereavement, psychosis and abusive relationships. I have also worked within the NHS on a ward for older adults, offering Art Therapy to clients suffering from dementia, physical symptoms and illnesses, loneliness and memory loss.
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 and verbal communication. I want to empower my clients to find a happier and healthier path and for them to strengthen their self-belief to move forward independently.
I use directive and non-directive techniques, combine mindfulness and focussing techniques with the theories and methods of Art Psychotherapy. 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
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£55.00 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 £55
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.
