As an art psychotherapist at Cambridge Park Academy, I facilitate undirected image, play, and sensory making sessions.

Some children struggle to express their emotions. These sessions give the students emotional labels to explore their feelings so they can then transfer them to other aspects of their lives. 
Some of the students have developmental delay due to their cognitive abilities or symptoms of trauma. I am usually able to identify the ages when events occurred by analysing the symbology and process of art making and work through  healing or brain pathway development, missed or damaged in earlier years.

I work with many LAC (looked after children) needing more support to transition to different family lives or care. I work closely with the safeguarding team to ensure my findings are shared with the wider staff group and social services if required. As I am also a qualified community learning disabilities nurse, I usually recommend ideas for adaptations and ideas to support students in the classroom based on mental health or physical needs highlighted in therapy.

J. Gale

Here are some quotes from our pupils -

"I love art therapy! Thank you for the clay which I made mutation creatures, food and traps and also helping me"

"I wish I could have art therapy in half term"

"Art therapy is really relaxing"

Check out some of our work below