I hold a Master of Art Therapy Degree with Distinction achieved through a British Association of Art Therapists approved training course and I am accredited and registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). I hold additional training in Online Counselling, Inclusion & Diversity and Evaluation & Research in Art Psychotherapy.

I am the founder and Lead Psychotherapist for Colour Me Sunshine, where I’ve held many one-to-one art therapy and open studio sessions, mental health awareness exhibitions and events and currently deliver creative therapy empowerment groups in refuge hostels with mums and children. This is backed with further training in Open Studio Group course with the Oxford College of Art Therapies.

My experience ranges in working with adults one-to-one, groups in community and charity settings, children and adolescents’ in schools and in a therapeutic, behavioural provision service. As a culture enthusiast, I have travelled and been passionately involved community development programs, charity and projects for over 8 years, including supporting international development operating in the slums of Brazil and facilitating project work in various parts of Japan.

Art Therapy

Art Therapy is similar to talking psychotherapy, except with the added benefits of using art materials to express, process and understand your emotions, issues and sense of self. Clients do not need to always to make art in sessions and do not need to have any experience with art making.

Using art to put negative ‘stuff’ onto something outside of you can be very healing and can deepen our work together. Art therapy taps into parts of the brain that are not controlled and managed by conscious thought, reading and talking. This creative side of the brain can access pre-verbal memory and areas where difficult, suppressed and hidden problems and memories lie, allowing us to safely explore and resolve them together.

Art therapy has shown to be very effective in treating many  mental health issues and life issues such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety and general anxiety disorders
• Feeling Sad
• Child-related issues
• Panic disorders

Art therapy has also shown to work well in working with:

• Autism
• Dementia
• Relationship and family issues
• Abuse
• Loss and grief
• Personality disorders

It evokes mindfulness, healing, presence and stillness, self-reflection and self-discovery, safety, creativity and resilience, self-esteem building, bonding and processing or resolving past traumas such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment and difficult or loss of relationships. 

I offer group therapy in Milton Keynes area allowing regular but affordable access to face-to-face therapy. Please get in touch for further details and bookings.

Working with ‘difference’

‘’I don’t feel like my friends or family understand me’’

 ‘’People get tired of hearing me complain about race.’’

 ‘’I feel like I’m different from everyone else …’’

Don’t worry, there is space for you here.

As a registered member of the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN) with a specialist interest in diversity, cross-cultural issues and psychosocial power dynamics in Western society, I have a great deal of experience working with culturally & ethnically diverse individuals who feel ‘different’, such as internal conflicts with one's own race, Christianity, Islam or other religious teachings and practices, and have also worked with members of the LGBTQIA community. Our time together is aimed to create a safe space for you bring the awkward, the ugly and the difficult issues that are too heavy to explore outside of therapy.

Location

I offer sessions in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire (MK11), for clients in the nearby or surrounding area. I can also offer some sessions in central Luton. For anyone outside of this, or simply for your convenience, I also offer sessions online, which you can find out more below:

Online Counselling

Q. What is counselling online?

Online counselling consists of live webcam video sessions, video phone call, counselling email, live messenger chat in ‘real time’ at our arranged appointment time.

Q. What software do you use?

I use VSee and Zoom. These two are both free and the best software to use. They offer IM, video and voice-only software with secure end-to-end encryption services for complete online privacy and confidentiality. Additionally, we can screen share, or add images to our video or voice call if you’d like to include some pre-made artwork or make art in the session.

Q. Can I also do art therapy online?

Yes, you can make the artwork during, before or after the session and we discuss it together during our scheduled time. We can screen share if you'd like to make art digital on your computer. We can also use found objects, imagery and metaphor creatively online. You are welcome to send the artwork to me through Dropbox or OneDrive (both secure and private sharing networks) prior to the session or hold the artwork up to the camera, for us to explore during your session. With Zoom, you can add the artwork as an image into the live video or voice call.

Q. Who is online counselling for?

I work online with adult clients (18+), one-to-one. Counselling online has its additional benefits such as eliminating location restrictions and travelling times.

Currently, I only work with children and adolescents in person, not online. Due to licencing restrictions, I do not work with clients online from the U.S and Canada.

If you have been diagnosed with a Personality Disorder, suicide ideation or a substance and/or alcohol addiction, online counselling may not be the most appropriate or effective method of therapy for you.