ABOUT
HEALING
ART
"The Young people Clare has worked with have thrived in her creative environment." Private Care Home for teenagers with complex needs.
How can art help?
My aim is to share my knowledge and understanding of how art can help to heal and improve emotional well-being. I am passionate about inclusivity, believe that expression through creativity can be useful to everyone - and through my online presence and work in person - I will share information and build a community around this ethos.
Sometimes it is hard to find the words to express feelings, or to understand or tolerate complex emotions that surround an issue. The ability to express oneself through creative methods is beneficial as it can provide relief, understanding and insight.
The sessions and resources that I provide offer the opportunity to explore art and creative activities in supportive groups, in a safe space, or online in your own setting.
All Group and Individual activities, resources or prompts are designed with a therapeutic, healing, expressive and positive aspect in mind.
The groups, individual and school sessions help to support, empower, include, and facilitate people to discover the powerful nature of art as a healing tool.
About me
Several years ago I decided to move away from working in the charity sector to retrain. Firstly I studied at University of Gloucestershire where I gained a First Class Joint Honours BA Degree in Psychology and Health and Social Care. From that I was able to study on the Art Therapy Master's at Derby University. Through this I undertook a placement at Hereford 2gether NHS Trust, working in Hospital and Community Mental Health settings. and gained a Post Graduate Certificate in Art for Healing.
During that time I was also an Art Therapy client as part of my education. I went on an incredible journey, both personally and professionally and experienced both sides of the therapy. Since then I have continued learning and growing through my own art. I have worked with children and young people since 2010, with individuals and groups, offering art as an expressive tool, teaching art and mentoring using art as a focus. I have been working in schools (since Sept 2019) providing extra support to children facing difficulties. I have also been writing resources for groups, individuals and parents, and offering free activities and Sketchbook Creativity Challenges through my social media. I maintain and develop my own artwork; printing, drawing or learning new creative skills, on a daily basis.
I use my Psychology, Art Therapy, Mental Health and Art training, my own artistic journey, my experience gained through working with adults, teenagers and children for over a decade, and my experience with my own child to develop resources, plan activities and deliver the Healing Art services.
I have an enhanced DBS certificate.
"I enjoyed the challenge loads. I've not spent time doing art for me since having children. The prompts were good and I liked interpreting them in my own way." Member of a '7 days of Sketchbook Creativity' online group.
"My life has improved dramatically from attending the group. I have a regular space that is just for me, and that alone gives me so much. Plus the added benefits from the meaningful prompts and art activities" Member of Sketchbook Builder Group
"I had an idea in my head and I got it on the paper". Child at a school one-to-one session.
Sketchbook Challenges/Builders are great for improving your art, growing your art practice and process, focusing your mind, and can offer a beautiful insight and beginning into understanding the benefits of daily creativity. Even just ten minutes of creativity a day is thought to improve emotional well-being. I design each prompt with the artistic journey, self expression and individual interpretation in mind. These challenges or groups are also excellent if you are trying to build a portfolio of work for interview or for your own personal art journey.