Courageous Hope Art Therapy

17/01/2026

In simple terms.... How trauma shows up in adults and how art therapy can help.

14/01/2026

Engaging in creativity can reduce depression, improve immunity and delay ageing – all while you’re having fun

14/01/2026

Did you know?

Creating art helps lower stress hormones like cortisol.
Entering a creative flow can calm the brain in a way similar to meditation.

Working with your hands — drawing, painting, designing — strengthens emotional processing and memory.

Regular creative practice is linked to reduced anxiety and low mood.

It supports confidence, self-expression, and emotional regulation.

Art doesn’t require talent — only permission.
It helps your nervous system settle, your mind make sense of experience, and brings you back to yourself.

09/01/2026

How trauma displays in children and teenagers

07/01/2026

🔥 Art therapy sessions could cut the risk of burnout by half, a study of London medics suggests.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust worked with 129 doctors, nurses and other health professional from London hospitals to study the effects of group art therapy sessions.

They found that those who took part in the sessions reported much lower emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, and less stress, anxiety and depression.

🔗 Read the full article from the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yj6412gvxo

📷️ Image: Dr Francesco Rosato
Credit: BBC

04/01/2026

02/01/2026

✨ How Art Therapy Can Support You This New Year ✨

The new year doesn’t have to be about pressure or perfection. It can be about healing, clarity, and hope.

At Courageous Hope Art Therapy, art therapy offers a gentle, creative way to: 🎨 Release stress and emotional weight
🎨 Explore goals and intentions with curiosity
🎨 Build self-awareness and confidence
🎨 Support anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions
🎨 Reconnect with joy, creativity, and self-expression

You don’t need to be “good at art.” Art therapy is about the process, not the product—a safe space to express what words can’t always capture.

🌱 If you’re ready to start this year with compassion and courage, art therapy may be your next step.

📍 Private practice | Individual sessions
💬 Message or book today to begin your journey with Courageous Hope Art Therapy

10/12/2025

Helping Anxious Kids Who Don’t Want to Go to School

School refusal is usually driven by anxiety, not laziness. A few things that truly help:

Stay calm and listen. Ask what feels hard about school, and validate their feelings.

Keep routines steady. A predictable morning routine reduces stress.

Small steps, not all-or-nothing. Even going for part of the day is progress.

Work with the school. Ask for a safe space, a trusted adult, or a transition plan.

Teach coping skills. Deep breathing, grounding, positive self-talk.

Avoid turning home into the “easy” option. Keep days at home low-stimulus (no games, no YouTube).

Celebrate small wins. Confidence grows with each step.

Seek professional help if anxiety is severe or ongoing.

You’re not alone—many kids struggle with this, and with the right support, it gets better.

05/12/2025

🌿 Welcome — A Little About My Experience and the Work I’m Passionate About

In my therapeutic practice, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside people during some of the most challenging and transformative chapters of their lives. Over the years, my work has centred around supporting individuals who have experienced trauma, struggled with identity and relationships, or reached a point where life feels overwhelming and unfamiliar.

My experience includes supporting people through:

✨ Abuse and Trauma

Spiritual abuse

Workplace abuse and bullying

Domestic abuse, including:
• Sexual abuse
• Coercive control and manipulation
• Financial abuse
• Emotional and psychological abuse
• Physical abuse

Attachment wounds and developmental trauma

Trauma and PTSD

✨ Mental and Emotional Well-Being

Anxiety and depression

Self-harm and suicidal ideation

Personality dynamics such as borderline, avoidant, or narcissistic patterns

Addictions and compulsive behaviours

✨ Life Transitions & Relational Challenges

Family breakdown, separation, and divorce

Menopause and identity shifts across the lifespan

Therapeutic parenting and supporting caregivers

Relationship difficulties of all kinds

✨ Neurodivergence
I also have experience supporting neurodivergent individuals, including those with:

Autism / ASD

ADHD

Dyslexia

Dyspraxia

Tourette’s

OCD

Bipolar
and the many complexities, strengths, and challenges that can accompany a neurodivergent experience.

No matter what you’re facing, therapy offers a space where your story can be held with care, where patterns can be understood, and where healing can unfold at a pace that feels right for you.

If any of this resonates, I welcome you to get in touch for more information or to book a free 15-minute consultation. It’s a gentle opportunity to ask questions, explore what you need, and see whether working together feels like the right fit.

24/11/2025

Yes, this!

Emotions are meant to be felt - sadness, frustration, fear, overwhelm and allllllll of the rest

So let’s focus on how healthy it is for a baby, child and teenager (let alone us) to feel safe to feel and show emotions - as this is healthy not ‘sensitivity’.

19/11/2025

An excellent article on how art therapy can help empower and reclaim autonomy.

https://edshift.co.uk/how-art-therapy-unlocks-the-voices-of-children/?fbclid=IwdGRzaAOKuF9jbGNrA4q04GV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHloFbFhE-t4wttnWbUC-wNko4ct2jLvHTZTHnQkCkFGRhonwn9IgI0EXM69V_aem_PVhpeNSDqNic0S4u3kcYGw

For children who have lived through domestic abuse, language can feel unsafe. Words might have been used as weapons, or silence might have been their only protection. Art therapy offers a way through this silence, allowing children to express what their voices cannot yet hold.