Anna Stephenson Art Therapy
Anna Stephenson Art Therapy
HCPC & BAAT Registered Art Psychotherapist
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HCPC & BAAT Registered Art Psychotherapist
Art Therapy
Art Therapy
Sessions
Fees
What brings people to Art Therapy?
Neurodiversity & Art Therapy
How Art Therapy can support me?
Useful Links
Art Therapy Regulations
Sessions
Sessions
What happens in an Art Therapy session?
What happens in an Art Therapy session?
Sessions are face-to-face and last 50 minutes.
Your session will be on the same day each week, at the same time. Sessions usually involve a combination of talking, art making and reflection and it's up to you to choose how you want to use the time in your session.
How long will we work together?
How long will we work together?
We can arrange an initial meeting to see if we can work together and talk about consenting and committing to an initial course of sessions. All things made and discussed in these sessions will be treated confidentially.
Do I need to be good at art?
Do I need to be good at art?
No, you do not need to be good at art or have ever done well at art in school. The art making in the sessions is about process and expression. It is not about making a finished or 'good' piece of art. There is no right or wrong way of working with the art materials.
A mixture of materials are provided in the room each week for you to explore and use. E.g. clay, coloured modelling clay, paints, charcoal, inks, pastels, paper, pens, natural materials, sand, books and craft materials. There will be no pressure to engage in art making in a particular way.
I have lots of experience in using different art materials, so I can support you to try new materials or ways of expressing yourself.
What happens to the art making from the sessions?
What happens to the art making from the sessions?
All of your art making will be stored securely and confidentially. It isn't taken home each week.
When we have agreed a planned ending to sessions, you will have an opportunity to review your art making and choose what you would like to do with them. Some people want to take their art making with them or leave it with the art therapist where they are destroyed in confidential manner. If we work together on a long term basis, we will review art making at agreed intervals of time.
Can I stay with my child in session?
Can I stay with my child in session?
No. You can drop them off and I will greet you at the door. After that, children and young people attend the session on their own. The sessions are confidential. If your child wants to talk about their experiences in therapy with anyone, that is their decision and choice.
Please note: There isn't a waiting room for parents in the space where I work. There are two cafes next door and a variety of shops nearby.
Are the sessions confidential?
Are the sessions confidential?
Art Therapists follow strict confidentiality guidelines. They may share safeguarding concerns with other professionals if there is a risk of harm to you or others. I will ask for details of your GP and for your consent to tell your GP that you are attending sessions - but I will not share the content of the sessions. Parents, Children and Young People are made aware of the Confidentiality and Record Keeping Policy, including the limits of confidentiality.
Art Therapists follow strict confidentiality guidelines. They may share safeguarding concerns with other professionals if there is a risk of harm to you or others. I will ask for details of your GP and for your consent to tell your GP that you are attending sessions - but I will not share the content of the sessions. Parents, Children and Young People are made aware of the Confidentiality and Record Keeping Policy, including the limits of confidentiality.
Fees
Fees
1-to-1 Art Therapy fee is £60 for a 50 minute session
Payment must be made on the day of the session.
I have a 48 hours notice cancellation policy.
After a telephone or email communication, we can arrange an initial face-to-face meeting to consider how I can best support your child or young person and if it would be appropriate for us to work together. This meeting give you the chance to visit the room, meet me and ask me any questions. Feel free to contact me.
1-to-1 Art Therapy fee for Trainee Art Therapists £55
Please contact me to discuss this.
We can arrange an initial face-to-face session for us to consider the possibilities of working together. In this session, I will ask some questions to find out a bit more about you and we can chat about what brings you to art therapy, whether there is anything you want to focus on and you can ask me questions to find out more.
Art Therapy in Schools
For schools in the Sheffield area, please contact me.
I can provide a Service Level Agreement and References.
What brings people to Art Therapy?
What brings people to Art Therapy?
People of all ages and backgrounds go to Art Therapy sessions.
You may feel unsure about what you want to share in the session and sometimes we just want to better understand ourselves.
People may come to art therapy for many different reasons, including:
School difficulties
Social difficulties/Relationship Difficulties
Family Issues
Changes in life circumstances
Anxiety
Self-esteem
Communication difficulties
Traumatic Experience
Self-harm
Trying to understand neurodivergence
Loss, Death and Bereavement
Life-changing events
Difficulty regulating behaviour
Exploring Sexual or Gender Identity
Neurodiversity and Art Therapy
Neurodiversity and Art Therapy
I aim to facilitate connection, communication, and self-expression, ensuring that therapy is as inclusive, supportive and accessible as possible.
We can work together in a way that sensitively and effectively suits your sensory needs, ways of processing emotions and methods of communication.
Please note Art Psychotherapists cannot diagnose learning disabilities or neurodivergence. I can provide therapeutic support if you are engaging with the formal assessment process.
How can Art Therapy support me?
How can Art Therapy support me?
Building a therapeutic relationship
Building a therapeutic relationship
It is important to feel emotionally safe before exploring what is going on for you. Within a boundaried and supported environment it is important that you feel seen and heard. This allows people to explore thoughts and feelings, try new things and reflect in a way which may be difficult to do elsewhere.
Physical and Emotional Regulation Through Art
Physical and Emotional Regulation Through Art
Sometimes, when we're upset or stressed, we feel it in our bodies or show it through our behavior. Making art can help with this. Using our hands and working with different textures and materials can calm the body and help us feel more in control of our emotions.
Art activities can be especially helpful if you’ve experienced trauma, feel easily overwhelmed by sensory input, or struggle with strong emotions. Creating something with your hands can help you feel grounded, safe, and more connected to yourself.
Engaging the Body and Brain
When we use our senses - like touch, sight, and movement - during creative activities, it stimulates parts of the brain that help us regulate stress and anxiety. This can be especially helpful for people who have experienced trauma, as it helps calm the body’s stress response.
Supporting Emotional Expression
Creating art with your hands allows you to express feelings without needing to find the right words. This is important because trauma can affect the parts of the brain that handle language. Art gives a safe way to release and understand emotions through movement and creativity.
Processing and Healing from Memory
Trauma can change how we store and remember our experiences. Art and sensory activities help keep us grounded in the present moment, which makes it easier to gently explore and process past experiences. These activities also activate parts of the brain that support emotional healing and recovery.
Managing anxiety
Managing anxiety
Talking about difficult feelings can be overwhelming. The act of creating can be soothing and help regulate the nervous system.
Gaining new understandings
Gaining new understandings
Putting feelings into a visual form can help you to see and reflect on them more clearly and in new ways. Art work can be revisited and hold information in a way that conversations can be hard to recall or describe.
Building confidence and self-esteem
Building confidence and self-esteem
Completing artwork can build confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
Fun!
Fun!
Art therapy can feel playful and can feel more appealing and accessible. Playful experiences build positive relationship experiences. We can play games, interact with materials together if it helps and be creative in how materials are used imaginatively.
Please note: Art therapy is a way for people to explore feelings and experiences that might be hard to put into words. Sometimes as people engage with the creative process, they can find that difficult or intense emotions come up. This is normal and often part of the therapeutic journey. We will work together to make sure you feel safe and supported.
Useful Links
How Art Therapy helps:
https://baat.org/art-therapy/evidence/
https://baat.org/art-therapy/key-evidence/
Stories and experiences of Art Therapy:
https://baat.org/art-therapy/stories-and-experiences/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/healing-soldiers/
https://www.facebook.com/BBCLondon/videos/1665257770182580/
Regulations in Art Therapy
Regulations in Art Therapy
Art therapists have a postgraduate, MA or MSC qualification in Art Therapy.
Registration with HCPC is required by law to be able to practice as an Art Therapist or Art Psychotherapist in the UK. This ensures that national standards are met. You can check if an art therapist is registered at: www.hpcheck.org
Any person working with children and young people is required to have Enhanced DBS clearance.
For further information on Art Therapy, training and standards of practice visit the website of the British Association of Art Therapists https://baat.org/
karen@ksarttherapy.co.
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