ARTS COUNSELLING AND SENSORIMOTOR ART THERAPY
with JEMMA HONE MBACP
“I found that I could say things with colours and shapes that I couldn’t say in any other way - things I had no words for”
Georgia O’Keefe
I completed my Arts in Therapy training in 2015, and have been working in schools with children and teenagers since then. I offer a combination of art, counselling, sensorimotor therapy, and play therapy. I am now running a small private practice in the Canterbury area.
WHAT IS ARTS COUNSELLING?
You don’t need to have any natural artistic talent to benefit from creative therapies: the focus is more on the creative process than on a finished image. It can be particularly helpful for those experiencing distress which they are unable to verbalise, particularly young people who may not be able to fully understand their trauma, or find it too overwhelming.
Most sessions involve a combination of talking and artmaking. However, at times, we may just talk and think together or, alternatively, the artmaking can be the focus. We can use image making, sandtray work, metaphor and imagination as additional tools to explore difficult thoughts and experiences. We can also work with Clayfield Therapy to address traumatic experiences held in the body. Ultimately it is what works for you that matters and so I am guided by you and what you bring to sessions.
If you wish to explore this method, I will support you in using art materials in your own way and at your own pace, encouraging you to reflect on your artmaking process so that together we can begin to make sense of what is happening in your life in a safe and unpressured way.
SENSORIMOTOR ART THERAPY
Our work may involve sensorimotor art therapy, which allows the processing of trauma and painful experiences in an embodied and non-verbal way. Early childhood experiences, medical and sexual trauma often cannot be reached through words, as the cognitive function of the brain was not engaged when they happened. Many traumatic memories involve the sense of touch. Through Clayfield work and Guided Drawing, these memories can be safely transformed into a new sense of self-worth and empowerment.
The Clayfield is a box filled with about 10 kg of smooth clay. Through touching and working with the clay, clients' motor impulses are projected into the field and the sensory feedback they receive from this experience allows them to build a new embodied relationship to themselves, the world, and others. Emerging research shows Clayfield work to be deeply therapeutic, especially for children with learning and behavioural difficulties such as ADHD, and for traumatised adults. It is of benefit to those experiencing aggression and oppositional behaviour, divorce, transitions and bereavement, and in consolidating attachment relationships to self and others.
Some possible benefits of therapy may be:-
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Improving emotional and behavioural issues
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Processing changes to family life, bereavement and illness
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Transforming trauma including early trauma experiences, abuse, neglect and medical trauma
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Attachment enhancement
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Supporting learning and physical difficulties, including ADHD and ASC
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Sensory processing issues
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Self-regulation
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Identity exploration
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Fostering creativity, wellbeing and joy
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Strengthening self esteem
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Making positive life choices
NURTURING ARTS GROUPS
I also run stand alone or a series of group workshops using the arts to promote wellbeing. These can be for any age group, and may involve a variety of media and methods to nurture ourselves and our creativity, connecting more deeply to our inner world as well as to each other and the environment in a gentle and supportive environment.
WHO I AM
After completing a BA Honours in Drawing and Painting from Edinburgh College of Art, I knew that I wished to combine my love of art to support others in improving their lives. Much later in life after many years of working in early years settings, I had the opportunity to study an MA in Therapeutic Arts Counselling at Tobias School of Arts and Therapy. During my training I ran a therapeutic arts group for adults, but since graduating I have combined my interest in working with young people and art therapy by working in a variety of school settings with children and young people of all ages, both here in the UK and in Australia. Much of my work has been with children in care as a VSK therapist.
I have developed my work through further trainings in Teenage Counselling and Parent and Child Therapy (IATE), in Initiatic Art Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, Theraplay, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Non-Violent Communication, Mindfulness in schools, Heartmath Techniques, the Safe and Sound Protocol, Emotion Focused Therapy, and in Sensorimotor Art Therapy using Guided Drawing and Clayfield Therapy (as taught by Cornelia Elbrecht).
I provide a caring, empathic safe space for you to explore any challenging life events or issues in a person-centred and supportive way. I strongly believe in the power of therapeutic art to heal trauma, and to foster healthy psychological, emotional, educational, social and physical development.
I offer children and young people a child-led space to support them in finding their own questions and answers.
I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP), the AATA and the APCCA, and hold an up to date enhanced DBS. I am on the Kent County Council registered providers list for working with adoptive families and children in care.
SCHEDULE OF THERAPY
When working with children, I will often do an intake session with their parent or carer, followed by 3-6 sessions with the child, followed by a further parent/carer session. I also offer joint sessions with the parent/carer and child together. For teenagers and adults after the first intake session I normally suggest meeting weekly at an agreed time, and if after the first 3 sessions you feel that the process is helpful for you, we will continue to meet. Then, after approximately 6 sessions, it will be up to you to decide to either continue to meet weekly, or only fortnightly or monthly.
SESSIONS AND FEES
Sessions last for 60 minutes and usually take place on a weekly basis. Your slot will be reserved for you on the same day, at the same time, which means it is not available for anyone else. It is therefore important that if you want to cancel an appointment, you must provide a minimum of 24 hours’ notice, otherwise you will still need to pay for any sessions missed.
My fee is £60 for a one-to-one 60-minute session, payable by bank transfer on the day of each session.
I offer two concessionary rate sessions per week for people with limited resources.
GET IN TOUCH
If you would like any more information about the services I offer, please complete this contact form and I will respond as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours.
I offer a free 20 minute phone consultation.
jhoneart8@gmail.com
I look forward to hearing from you.
Jemma Gita Hone MBACP, AATA, APCCA.