Therapeutic Arts Programme
Our approach is built around a simple idea: not everyone who is struggling needs, wants or feels ready for formal therapy, but many people can benefit from thoughtful, emotionally safe support before difficulties escalate.
We develop structured creative mental health programmes that use art-making, metaphor and psychologically informed facilitation to help people understand feelings, build emotional capacity and strengthen connection.
Working with children, young people and families in schools and communities, our programmes offer accessible early emotional support. Each programme is carefully designed, facilitated and evaluated with psychological thinking in mind, while remaining flexible and responsive to the needs of participants.
How We Deliver
We deliver six-week therapeutic arts programmes and shorter workshops in partnership with schools, community organisations and local services.
Each programme has a clear therapeutic framework while remaining flexible enough to respond to the needs of the group. We use art-making, metaphor and carefully chosen materials to create accessible ways for participants to explore experiences that may be difficult to put into words.
Sessions are structured but process-led, allowing people to engage at their own pace within an emotionally safe and thoughtfully held group space.
Our programmes are designed, facilitated and evaluated with psychological thinking in mind, drawing on art psychotherapy, psychology, attachment-informed and trauma-informed practice.
Where appropriate, we work with partners before and after delivery to understand the context, adapt the programme and share learning that may support what happens beyond the sessions.
Why art-making and metaphor?
Some experiences are difficult to put into words. Art-making can offer another way to express, reflect on and make sense of feelings and experiences, while metaphor provides a gentler route into emotional exploration without requiring direct personal disclosure.
The value lies not in making “good artwork”, but in the process of making, noticing, reflecting and connecting.
What makes our programmes different
What makes our programmes distinctive is the psychological thinking behind them. Drawing on our backgrounds in art psychotherapy and psychology, we consider not only the creative activities themselves, but also how participants experience them.
Psychologically informed does not mean that every programme is therapy. It means paying thoughtful attention to emotional safety, pacing, choice, relationships, group dynamics and the meanings that emerge through art-making, materials and metaphor.
Our programmes bring together creative freedom and psychologically informed facilitation. They are structured but process-led, allowing participants to engage at their own pace, explore their experiences and find their own meanings.
Emotional Ocean
6-week therapeutic art programme for children and young people
Emotional Ocean uses the metaphor of ocean waves to help children and young people explore feelings, emotional change and ways of responding when emotions feel strong.
Through creative, sensory and reflective activities, participants are supported to notice, express and make sense of their inner experiences in a safe and accessible way. The programme is structured but process-led, allowing each child to engage at their own pace.
Emotional Ocean has been delivered in both school and community settings, including Broadheath Primary School and in partnership with Trafford Hongkongers CIC, with support from The National Lottery Community Fund.
Colours of Vessels
Therapeutic arts programme for for people with caring responsibilities
Colours of Vessels is a structured therapeutic arts programme exploring care, emotional capacity and what helps people feel supported and replenished.
Using the metaphor of vessels and flowers, the programme offers a gentle way to reflect on what we carry, what sustains us and how we care for ourselves while caring for others. Participants are invited to engage through creative and reflective activities at their own pace, without pressure to disclose more than they wish to share.
The programme is designed to support emotional reflection, self-understanding and a stronger awareness of personal needs, support and capacity.
Colours of Vessels has already been developed through pilot and commissioned work with people with caring responsibilities. A further project has been funded by the Circle Funerals Fund, with four additional workshops planned. Further details will be shared in mid-November
River of Change
6-week therapeutic art programme exploring transition, identity and belonging
River of Change uses the metaphor of a river to explore experiences of change, movement, identity and belonging.
Through creative and reflective activities, participants are supported to make sense of transition, notice what they carry with them, and explore what helps them feel grounded, connected and able to move forward. The programme is structured but process-led, allowing people to engage with the themes in ways that feel meaningful and safe for them.
River of Change has already been piloted with a group of immigrants settling in the UK. Two further six-week cohorts for young people will take place in October 2026 through a project led by Trafford Hongkongers CIC and funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.
