TESSA Therapist
Location
Belfast/Greater Belfast County Antrim and Down.
I am registered/accredited with:
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
British Association for Art Therapist (BAAT), Member and approved by/registered with BAAT for Private Practice.
Code of ethics observed
HCPC, BAAT.
Qualifications
MSc Art Psychotherapy with Merit (University of East London /Belfast Health and Social Care Trust) 2007-2010
Post Graduate Diploma in Arts Admin (UCD) 1992-1993
BA Honours in Fine Art (Painting, print-making/Art History (Leeds University) 1984-1988
BSL Stage 1, TEFL,Cert Com Dev 1988-1998
Ongoing CPD : Including Art Therapy and Treatment of Attachment Trauma, Level 2 Children Accelerated Trauma treatment and Intercultural Competency.
Special interest/experience
Art Therapy
Additional information
I am a HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) registered Art Psychotherapist experienced in working with children, young people and adults on a one to one and group basis.(MSc Art Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychotherapy Belfast and University of East London, 2011 ). I have a background in Community Arts and my approach in Art Psychotherapy is Psychodynamic and Integrated.
Using art, play and creative expression is a natural language for children enabling them to communicate difficult and painful feelings. Art Therapy can be particularly beneficial for children who have experienced early/developmental trauma and attachment difficulties. Art Therapy communicates when words simply cannot.
My experience of working with children includes: Looked After children, Adoption, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, ADHD and children impacted by Meningitis.
Specialist areas of clinical practice include early developmental trauma, Troubles related psychological and trans-generational trauma and PTSD.
I work with children and their Care-givers/Parents individually and jointly and with groups in many different settings both in schools and in the community.
Specialist training in trauma and attachment includes:
ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Train the Trainer Course (ACES Level 1 and 2) with the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland.
Dyadic Art Therapy training with the British Association of Art Therapists , a joint art therapy approach involving children and their Caregivers/Parents which offers creative and playful activities, which can facilitate communication, discussion and benefit the relationship.
Children’s Accelerated Trauma Technique, Level 2, a child-centred technique for treating traumatic experiences and PTSD developed in partnership with children and based on children’s rights principles.
CPCAB Level 6 Creative Supervision Across the Ages.
I see: Children, adults and groups
