My therapeutic approach
My own experience of creativity as a source of understanding inspired me to study Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London, before completing my MA in Art Psychotherapy at The Art Therapy Northern Programme in Sheffield.
Throughout my training and clinical work, I saw how creative expression can help children, young people and families navigate experiences including trauma, anxiety, low mood, family change, identity, grief and relationship difficulties. Art provides a gentle way of exploring experiences that can feel overwhelming or difficult to express with words alone.
Alongside Art Psychotherapy, I am informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), a compassionate therapeutic model that recognises we all have different ‘parts’ of ourselves. Some parts carry vulnerability, while others work hard to protect us using strategies that once helped us cope. Together, IFS and Art Psychotherapy create opportunities to explore these parts, for example a very anxious part of ourselves, through image, metaphor, and creativity. The overall aim is to invite curiosity, self-understanding, and compassion.
At the heart of my work is my belief that every behaviour always has a story behind it. I take time to understand what lies beneath a behaviour and what a young person’s experiences have taught them about themselves, and others, because I believe and I see every single day, that when people feel genuinely listened to, understood and accepted trust grows, relationships strengthen, and different possibilities for navigating ‘life’ can emerge.
I am particularly passionate about working with clay. Clay engages both body and mind, offering children and young people a unique way to express experiences that are often held beyond words. I have written and delivered training on the therapeutic use of clay in trauma and attachment work and completed specialist training in The Clay Field with Cornelia Elbrecht. This body-based approach explores how experiences are held within us while supporting restoration, resilience and growth.
Outside work, you’ll usually find me creating something, walking along the beach, spending time in nature, connecting with friends or paddle-boarding with my Ragdoll cat, Percy.