Bea Hughes

I have over five years experience working as an Art Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor in mental health in the NHS with children and parents. I have experience with adults delivering Art Psychotherapy workshops. I am experienced and trained in psychodynamic, nature-based, attachment and trauma-based therapy approaches. I work with: • anxiety & depression • PTSD • trauma & sexual abuse • relational & attachment difficulties • emotional regulation issues e.g. anger, self-harm/suicidal thoughts • somatised emotion/trauma • cultural differences in understanding wellbeing & mental health • emotional or co-occurring emotional distress alongside neurodiversity. • I am LGBTQIA+ affirming and relationship diverse accepting. Though I am not trans, I am trans-affirming in my approach and understand the ongoing threat that holding marginalised identities can bring just from existing in the world. I also understand the strength and power that resides there. 

Art Psychotherapy is a form of therapy that uses art making to express thoughts, feelings and experiences with a therapist in the context of a therapeutic relationship. This is a collaborative approach and I provide guidance and support in creating art and using art materials where needed. This may involve thinking together about the artwork to explore together possible meaning for you. I also work with the body, particularly where there is/has been trauma, to aid emotional and sensory regulation, and integration of traumatic memory.

Art Psychotherapy can give tangible form to experiences that can be hard to say in words. Unconscious emotions, themes and stories about ourselves and the world can be made sense of. Talking about, and reflecting on images together in the context of a trusting therapeutic relationship, can be healing and cathartic. As with other therapies, sometimes this process can be upsetting for a while, but the aim is for some change or shift to be felt as a result of the therapy process.