I am a fully qualified Counsellor and Creative Arts Psychotherapist, holding a BA (Hons) in Integrative Counselling and Creative Arts Psychotherapy from Dublin Art Therapy College, SETU, Carlow. My therapeutic approach blends traditional talk therapy with the creative process of art therapy, providing clients with a unique and effective space to explore their emotions and experiences.

My approach is integrative, combining the person-centered approach of Carl Rogers with aspects of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and art therapy modalities to create a flexible and tailored therapeutic experience for the individual. I am passionate about offering a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to explore their emotions and work through life’s challenges, whether that involves grief, depression, anxiety, loneliness, addiction, or simply a sense of a lack of purpose and meaning in life.

Art can play a pivotal role in this process, offering a creative outlet at times when words fall short. It is important to stress that ‘art’, in the way it is used in the therapeutic space, is not about creating beautiful pictures. There is no artistic skill or experience required whatsoever. The art created in the therapy session could be something as simple as placing a dot or a squiggle on a page. Art in this sense is simply a tool which can be very effectively used to access the deep, innate, healing potential of the creative essence that I believe lies within every one of us.

I also appreciate that not everyone wants to participate in the art making process in the therapeutic space. I would like to stress that there is no obligation to do so. As an Integrative Counsellor and Art Therapist, he main thrust of my training has been in the Person Centered approach of Carl Rogers, as such, I leave the choice of whether or not to participate in the art making process entirely at the discretion of the client.