We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams*
Originally Irish, I've been blessed to live in Aotearoa since 1999.
I've worked around the world with people living on the streets, in paediatric oncology, palliative care, trauma and homicide support, for festivals, in education and communities, squeezed in a few art exhibitions and written the odd song now and then.
I believe in a person-centered approach to arts education and mental health.
I gained a Masters in Arts Therapy in 2004 and a Clinical Masters in 2007.
After an intensive 7 years of working in Education, Paediatrics and Victim Support, I began teaching music from that perspective also. Since that time I've developed a strong and useful set of skills to assist people in enhancing and expressing their creativity as well as addressing mental health issues.
I'm registered Clinical Arts Psychotherapist (ATh.R 2023/24 NZ) with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA) and offer a different pathway to learning the arts too. After all, the artist is the one who expresses their own experience and dreams, through their creations.
What Is Art Psychotherapy?
You may hear the terms "Art Psychotherapy" and "Art Therapy" used interchangeably. Both are protected titles by law and therefore cannot be used by practitioners unless they have completed a registered course and are professionally registered with ANZACATA.
Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art materials and creativity to explore thoughts, feelings and experiences as an alternative to using words – which are often difficult to find! For this reason, it is a form of therapy that is perfect for anyone who is developing and understanding their own “feelings language”, especially children and young adults. It's also useful for group and family therapy.
Like other psychotherapies and counselling, Art Therapy is a confidential and non-judgmental space where the relationship between client and their therapist is the key to effective working. With a strong therapeutic relationship, the art-making and creative expression can be used to address life events and emotions which may be confusing, distressing and causing behavioural changes.
I've worked around the world with people living on the streets, in paediatric oncology, palliative care, trauma and homicide support, for festivals, in education and communities, squeezed in a few art exhibitions and written the odd song now and then.
I believe in a person-centered approach to arts education and mental health.
I gained a Masters in Arts Therapy in 2004 and a Clinical Masters in 2007.
After an intensive 7 years of working in Education, Paediatrics and Victim Support, I began teaching music from that perspective also. Since that time I've developed a strong and useful set of skills to assist people in enhancing and expressing their creativity as well as addressing mental health issues.
I'm registered Clinical Arts Psychotherapist (ATh.R 2023/24 NZ) with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA) and offer a different pathway to learning the arts too. After all, the artist is the one who expresses their own experience and dreams, through their creations.
What Is Art Psychotherapy?
You may hear the terms "Art Psychotherapy" and "Art Therapy" used interchangeably. Both are protected titles by law and therefore cannot be used by practitioners unless they have completed a registered course and are professionally registered with ANZACATA.
Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art materials and creativity to explore thoughts, feelings and experiences as an alternative to using words – which are often difficult to find! For this reason, it is a form of therapy that is perfect for anyone who is developing and understanding their own “feelings language”, especially children and young adults. It's also useful for group and family therapy.
Like other psychotherapies and counselling, Art Therapy is a confidential and non-judgmental space where the relationship between client and their therapist is the key to effective working. With a strong therapeutic relationship, the art-making and creative expression can be used to address life events and emotions which may be confusing, distressing and causing behavioural changes.
Qualifications: Royal Irish Academy of Music (R.I.A.M.)-Grade VIII. Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Fine Arts (Sculpture), Master of Arts (Hons) in Arts Therapy (Clinical), London Academy of Music and Arts (L.A.M.D.A.)- Grade VII.
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*"We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams....
...Yet we are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems".
Arthur O'Shaughnessy
...Yet we are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems".
Arthur O'Shaughnessy
