I believe recovery from addiction comes with a deep awareness ofone’s feelings and the ability to be able to externalise, communicateand sit with uncomfortable feelings without the desire to use asubstance or behaviour to numb them.Somebody suffering with the illness of addiction may findverbalising and communicating feelings painful and difficult. ArtTherapy for addiction allows the patient to use art materials to helpexternalise feelings and aid communication on a non-verbal level.This process of making art can be extremely soothing and catharticin itself and combined with subsequent discussion can offer a deepself-reflective process.The overall aim of Art Psychotherapy is to enable clients to effectchange and growth on a personal level in a safe and facilitatingenvironment. It can help release creativity, improve confidence andfacilitate empowerment through self-expression.Addiction CounsellingAs well as art-based therapy, I have extensive counselling experienceworking with adults and young adults suffering with addictions suchas substance misuse, sex, gambling and compulsive overeating.I also work with families and loved ones of those suffering withaddiction. Often when a person with an addiction is receivingtreatment, family members can feel isolated, unsupported and angry.I offer emotional support and an educational element to aid deeperunderstanding around the illness of addiction, focusing on issuessuch as co-dependency, enabling and boundaries.
I believe recovery from addiction comes with adeep awareness of one’s feelings and the ability tobe able to externalise, communicate and sit withuncomfortable feelings without the desire to use asubstance or behaviour to numb them.Somebody suffering with the illness of addictionmay find verbalising and communicating feelingspainful and difficult. Art therapy for addictionallows the patient to use art materials to helpexternalise feelings and aid communication on anon-verbal level. This process of making art canbe extremely soothing and cathartic in itself andcombined with subsequent discussion can offer adeep self-reflective process.The overall aim of Art Psychotherapy is to enableclients to effect change and growth on a personallevel in a safe and facilitating environment. It canhelp release creativity, improve confidence andfacilitate empowerment through self-expression.Addiction CounsellingAs well as art-based therapy, I have extensivecounselling experience working with adults andyoung adults suffering with addictions such assubstance misuse, sex, gambling and compulsiveovereating.I also work with families and loved ones of thosesuffering with addiction. Often when a personwith an addiction is receiving treatment, familymembers can feel isolated, unsupported andangry. I offer emotional support and aneducational element to aid deeper understandingaround the illness of addiction, focusing on issuessuch as co-dependency, enabling and boundaries.