Art psychotherapy and Art therapy are interchangeable terms for a form of therapy that uses creative expression alongside talking, to help explore thoughts and feelings that may be hard to put into words.
“Sometimes images can speak where words struggle.”
Kate Ackroyd Cooke
You don’t need to be “good at art” or have any experience — the focus is not on making something beautiful, but on the process of creating. Sometimes images can speak where words struggle. Working with art materials can allow things to surface gently, helping us access feelings, memories, or unconscious patterns in a safe and supported way.
As an integrative art psychotherapist, I combine creative approaches with talking therapy. This might involve using paint, clay, collage, or simple mark-making — or it might mean sitting and talking together, depending on what feels right for you. Sessions are shaped around your needs and can support a wide range of emotional, relational, or mental health challenges.
‘Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
Rumi – Translated from Persian by Coleman Barks
There is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
The world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
Doesn’t make any sense.’
At the heart of art psychotherapy is the therapeutic relationship. I aim to offer a non-judgmental, compassionate space where we can explore things at your own pace. The creative process can offer insight, relief, and emotional connection — helping you move toward greater understanding and wellbeing.
The emotional patterns we carry often run deep, shaped by early experiences that may still echo through our adult lives. These layers can quietly influence how we respond, relate, and cope — sometimes leaving us feeling stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed. In therapy, we can begin to untangle these strands with care and curiosity, gently bringing awareness to the parts of you that have been protecting, adapting, or holding pain. This compassionate process can help you reconnect with your needs, your values, and your capacity for change — creating space for more ease, clarity, and connection in your life.
Kate Ackroyd Cooke 