What I do
What I do
Art therapy for 11-23 year old young people
- Individual therapy
- Small groups
- Home and school visits
Teaching
- English as a Foreign Language for all ages
- German foreign language classes for all ages
- Home tuition
- Learning support for disabled
- Additional needs, i.e. working with children on the autistic spectrum, ADHD, OCD
Creative Careers Counselling
- 10 week course to explore what career you would enjoy through using the arts (all ages)
Art work
- website www.schmart.co.uk soon to come
Where?
In Ashford and Rye
If you have teenagers at home, have worked with teenagers or are a teenager yourself you will have discovered that it is sometimes very difficult to communicate.
It is also important to understand that in the transition from childhood to adulthood the brain undergoes a period of major restructuring. Frequently the 'mammalian brain', which triggers strong emotions, takes over and leaves the 'rational brain', the seat of cognitive functions, behind.
This is where the different art forms come into play: they establish links between the brain 'types' and help young people - and indeed adults - express their emotions safely. All art forms can be seen as a go-between the old and the modern brain enhancing our ability to solve problems, to reason and to reflect. They all have an impact on self awareness, kindness, empathy and concern. Above all the arts increase creative thinking, creativity and the capacity for imagination.
The following art forms can be used to beneficial effect in the therapeutic process:
- Painting
- Clay work
- Sand play
- Music
- Drama
- Puppets
- Dance and body work
- Poetry
- Creative Writing
- Journal Writing
- Story telling
The Arts have long been regarded as 'medicine' offering insight, relief from tension anxiety and fears as well as giving pleasure. They help to focus and provide safe inquiry. Art Therapy helps to contain, express and control the emotions. There is no need to be a good artist; we are all creative in some way or form. It’s about expressing yourself without being judged.
Integrative in this context means that one art form might lead to another, to deepen the understanding of emotions, behaviour and learning in order to be integrated into a person’s emotional life and well being.
To my mind image, word or movement are metaphors for a person’s emotional life and therefore can only be interpreted in their presence. In this context therapy is humanistic, integrative and holistic.
I work with individuals or small groups.
I have been training at the Institute of Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE - www.artspsychotherapy.org) and have completed the course.
The Institute prides itself on being at the forefront of research into emotional well-being and mental health for children and is an accredited Higher Education College in partnership with London Metropolitan College and The Centre for Child Mental Health (www.childmentalhealthcentre.org).
Graduates benefit from:
- UKECP registration (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy)
- HPC accreditation (Health Professions Council - arts psychotherapy course)
- UKAPC registration (United Kingdom Association for Psycho-therapeutic Counselling)
The IATE offers courses that are at the cutting edge of the integration of art and science. The latest neuroscientific research in emotional behaviour, child development and human interaction is a key feature of all its courses. (See the websites above and their prospectuses.)
Studies are based on latest neuroscience, attachment theory, trauma research, gestalt therapy, transactional analysis, art therapy, humanistic therapy, play therapy, child and adolescence research to name but a few. Training is comprehensive and integrative and achieves an excellent balance between theory and practice.
I especially favour a holistic and integrative way of treating people and consider research and continuous professional development to be essential to a therapist's career.
Physical and mental well-being, safety and positive development are at the centre of my interests.
I started teaching in 1976 in Austria and 1989 in the UK. I retired from mainstream teaching in 2010.
I have taught in all types of secondary schools: mixed comprehensive, independent girls’ school, boys’ grammar school, sixth form college and adult education.
I am qualified to teach
- English as a foreign language
- History
- Psychology
but I have also taught
- German as a Foreign Language
- Humanities at key stage 3: Geography, History and Religious Education
Other responsibilities
- I shared responsibility with other members of the MFL departments (French and Spanish) at Head of Faculty level
- I have been a Head of Department (German)
- I worked as a SENCO
- I work as therapeutic counsellor (with supervision) in schools for my current employment at the Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford and worked for KIDS Company/Skinner School in London
- I was also the lead professional for English as a Foreign Language (EAL) and I am a Specialist Teacher for Access arrangement testing at the Norton Knatchbull School.
- I am familiar with current developments and can support children and young adults in and outside school.
Having worked with KIDS Company and introduced therapeutic counselling using the arts at The Norton Knatchbull School, I know that many young people can feel safer in the school environment than at home. I offer visits to either.
Equally, some young people dislike school so much that they would prefer to see a counsellor outside school or at home, particularly when they self-refer. This is possible in the privacy at NKS ouside school hours or on Saturdays
I am currently offering a programme that helps people find their right occupation or career. This is not careers advice as such but rather provides understanding and developing strategies to help individuals identify a suitable career path, to discover what they really want to do in life.
To achieve this a 10 week programme is available centred on creative activities such as
- Clay work
- Writing
- Journaling
- Painting and drawing
- Creative thinking
- Practical guidance
It is tailored for individuals or small groups
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