Art Psychotherapy in Abergavenny

I am now offering Art Psychotherapy for adults in Abergavenny, from a lovely space at Your Healing Rooms, conveniently located in the very center of the town. For those who are interested in my Mentoring & Coaching work this venue can also be used for some in person appointments.

I continue to offer psychotherapy in Newport, and also online, so there are possibilities for therapy utilising a blend of in person and online meetings.

You can find full details of my practice in the Psychotherapy section of this website.

The room is very comfortable and features views towards the surrounding hills or Sugarloaf and Blorenge. On a personal note it feels very pleasing to be using this space for my practice because I have taken great pleasure in walking the beautiful landscapes that encompass the town for a number of years.

Beginning in June I will be offering sessions on a Friday morning and early afternoon. If you are interested in working together but cannot attend at this time, please send me a message so I can let you know if other options become available.

If you would like to make an enquiry about working together in psychotherapy or mentoring, please send an email using the contact details or form at the foot of any page on this website.

An introduction to my Psychotherapy practice

I qualified in 2013 after completing the three year MA Art Psychotherapy at Goldsmith's College, University of London. My path into this work was shaped by beneficial experiences of psychotherapy (namely Psychosynthesis, Transpersonal, and with a Jungian Analyst), combined with interests in creativity, spirituality, and nature. I began my training as a Psychotherapist after a decade of exploring psyche and soul through art, and professional experience of working with people in social care and mental health settings.

I have gained a developed understanding of both therapeutic and creative processes, which I believe are very closely related and can work in tandem to facilitate personal enrichment and healing. 

Art Psychotherapy with me offers an invitation to take seriously, without self-absorption, the meaning of your own life journey, and nurture the process of becoming who you are. I emphasise the important therapeutic values of curiosity, compassion, and keeping a sense of humour close by.

Looking towards the therapy rooms in the center of Abergavenny, with the distinctive peak of Sugarloaf in the distance.

What brings you to therapy?

Some people who contact me describe this in terms of a particular experience, such as; anxiety, depression, trauma, low self-esteem, loneliness, stress, shame, family issues. Others mention difficult circumstances, or less clearly defined challenges like a sense of being 'stuck', and uncertainty around how to move on in life.

You might not be sure of the exact reasons at the beginning, but hope that meeting with a psychotherapist will help to clarify and make sense of your experience. Perhaps you feel the need for something to be different, even if that something is not yet known.

You might be looking for a therapist because you are...

• Going through a difficult time now, or would like to explore past experiences.

• Struggling with your sense of purpose, direction, and meaning.

• Wanting to engage more fully with aspects of life you find challenging. 

• Seeking a greater depth of self-expression and creativity.

• Experiencing problems with relationships (of any kind).

• Finding it hard to get a sense of who you are and how to situate yourself in a rapidly changing world. 

• Looking for new ways to move through life, rather than repeating old or self-limiting patterns.

• Interested in exploring life's 'big questions'. 

Therapy with soul and depth

I work with a Depth Psychology perspective that looks beneath the surface to find out about the life of your inner world, including feelings and emotions, thoughts, and dreams. We look for the unconscious patterns and themes that influence how you experience yourself and others.

This view suggests that what might be termed 'symptoms', or the challenges that life presents you with have a personal meaning to be discovered, and are best understood in the broader context of your life and the world around you, rather than as isolated events or experiences to be 'fixed'.

We will work in a collaborative way within safe and appropriate boundaries, building the trust which helps us give attention to the 'whole person' in a holistic sense; the suffering and successes, your hopes as well as fears, what you love and what you do not, sources of inspiration, both the shadow and the light. 

What is Art Psychotherapy?

Art Psychotherapy is a profession in the general field of counselling and psychotherapy, and is distinct from what might be considered 'art based activities,' or 'art as therapy.' State regulated by the HCPC, only qualified and registered practitioners can use the titles Art Psychotherapist or Art Therapist, and practice Art Psychotherapy or Art Therapy.

Art Psychotherapists have completed an in depth Masters level qualification, and can be found working in the NHS, the third sector, independently with organisations such as museums and galleries, and in private practice.

Whilst using art materials can certainly have a therapeutic benefit in itself, working with a qualified and experienced Art Psychotherapist emphasises engaging with the deeper qualities of images and creative processes within the therapeutic relationship (between client and therapist).

The purpose of using art materials in the psychotherapy session is about communication and expression, rather than making 'works of art'. The art objects and the experiences of making them contribute to ongoing processes which foster insight and understanding that can lead to personal change, growth, and healing.

Sometimes people tell me that whilst they really like the idea of working together, they are not so sure about the 'art' element of Art Psychotherapy. One difficulty can be associations to the word itself. 'Art' can mean so many different things, and conjure up very different responses from one person to the next.

• Whilst I will actively encourage and support you to experience the benefits of using the art materials as part of the therapeutic process, you will never be forced to do so. 

• No experience of making art is required.

• It isn't necessary to have any particular interest in art.

• Producing 'works of art' that will be seen outside the therapy space is not the aim.

• Images don't have fixed meanings, and I will not suddenly know things about you that you haven't shared with me.

About the type of therapy I offer

Whilst my approach is informed by recognised therapeutic traditions, the therapy is always slightly different according to the needs and personality of each individual. The working alliance between client and therapist is very important, because many of psychotherapy's key benefits emerge through this process of (therapeutic) relationship. This is something we will pay close attention to throughout.

My work is mostly influenced by the theory and practice of:

• Jungian therapy

• Psychodynamic therapy

• Psychoanalytic therapy

• Transpersonal psychology / Spirituality

• Ecopsychology / Nature

• Psychosynthesis 

Depth Psychology is an umbrella term used to describe approaches to therapy which acknowledge the significance of unconscious processes within the mind. The 'depth' doesn't mean to ignore the everyday stuff of life, but instead to learn from all aspects of your experience. It is about noticing how the surface and depth are connected, or how inner and outer life are intertwined.

This helps you to consider what you would like to be different (or what just feels wrong with your life as it is), and then understand what would need to change about yourself, how you live, or your circumstances in order for that to come about.

This is not to do with becoming someone else, or even ideas of becoming a 'better person', but finding healing and new ways of being that are in tune with your deeper sense of self and purpose. The therapy then supports you through this process of transformation. 

Genuine and deep rooted change is something that usually takes time, and requires a sense of commitment to 'inner work' to achieve. In this sense Psychotherapy can sometimes feel challenging as well as rewarding.

A Depth Psychotherapy approach also means that we don't see the individual person in isolation, but recognise we are connected to and influenced by society and culture, the places we inhabit, spiritual or religious views, the wider world of nature, political and economic factors, etc.

Sometimes people are concerned that in looking beyond the surface we will only find all manner of unwelcome things. Whilst it is true that an essential element of psychotherapy is coming to terms with aspects of ourselves that may feel difficult to love (sometimes termed 'shadow work', and identifying 'the secrets we keep from ourselves'), the idea is that by becoming more consciously aware of the underlying factors that influence thoughts, emotions, and behaviour, we can understand and integrate what feels undesirable, confusing or frightening within ourselves, rather than suffering so much from it (or making others suffer it).

Sometimes what we dislike or fear can be a kind of gold in disguise. When we get to know ourselves in a new way we might find value where previously we saw only something negative. This is what is meant by describing psychotherapy as transformative.

Depth Psychotherapy is about bringing your gifts closer to the surface. We are on the lookout for joy, wonder, inspiration, beauty, and love, which can just as often be hidden away, disguised, or rejected. Being alert to these important aspects of human life and cultivating our capacity to experience and express them is also vital in the therapeutic work, as I see it. 

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Andrew Phillips is a Visual Artist, Art Psychotherapist, Creative Mentor / Coach, in south Wales.

Thank you for reading this article. You are welcome to contact me with your questions, enquiries, or just to get in touch, using the form or email address found at the foot of each page on my website.

• Online Mentoring and Coaching sessions to enrich your vision for life. Key themes I can support you to explore include art & creativity, work & purpose, spirituality, nature & psyche, and reflective practice for professionals.

• Psychotherapy online or in person at my practice in Abergavenny and Newport.

• Shop offering original artwork directly from the studio.​