Talking #TeamCWPT blog

With Emma Evans, Art Psychotherapist

Inspired by her lifelong passion for the arts, Emma is supporting people with a learning disability to communicate and process difficult emotions in new ways, in her role as an art psychotherapist. Emma uses art as a medium, through a range of creative approaches, for clients to safely explore and make sense of their thoughts, emotions and experiences.

Since joining CWPT in 2022, Emma works within our North Warwickshire Community Learning Disability Team at the Loft and provides specialist support to adults who need psychological support. From supporting individuals who are struggling with their emotions to helping individuals process their loss, art therapy offers a safe space to explore feelings through images and materials. For example, adults with a learning disability may struggle to express themselves by traditional means of communication and talking therapies, so art therapy allows for an alternate mean of communicating their thoughts and feelings.

What is art psychotherapy?

Emma says: Art psychotherapy provides an alternative supportive intervention to offer a voice to individuals who may have found a talking therapy difficult. Through the exploration of materials and imagery, clients can develop a clearer understanding of their emotions whilst offering person centred support for parents and carers that will best meet their needs.

Art as a career

The arts have always been at the heart of Emma's professional career. Emma spent over 20 years within secondary education as a schoolteacher and curriculum leader of art. After circumstances changed following the closure of her school, she progressed on to working as an associate teaching fellow at Warwick University on the PGCE programme. This period gave her the opportunity to rethink her career path and begin a new chapter.

I had always been curious around the materials and what they were potentially holding for the students, especially the more vulnerable students or students who struggled to engage. That curiosity grew into a desire to understand how a creative practice could support a person more deeply, which ultimately led me to the work I do today, choosing to study art psychotherapy at Derby University.

Qualifying as an art psychotherapist and joining Team CWPT

Emma undertook a portion of her training with CWPT at Windmill Point. After qualifying, she was asked to shape art psychotherapy within the North Warwickshire Community Learning Disability Team based at the loft.

It felt wonderful to have my work recognised when I was approach for the position, but the most fulfilling aspect of my job is seeing the transformation in the clients, offering them confidence and knowing they finally are heard.

The importance of art in letting people express themselves

The arts have always been at the heart of my career. It's an area that has often needed championing and is easily undervalued. As a young person growing up with lived experience of disability within my family, I learnt the importance of feeling heard and understood. This experience has shaped my values, and it underpins my commitment to support our clients. I value being able to draw upon my lived experience and my creative background to offer a therapeutic intervention; something I have always been passionate about.

I truly believe that the arts can be used therapeutically as an early intervention. This, combined with taking the time to listen, can make a profound difference to our clients, which in turn, can hopefully ease pressure elsewhere and offer support with a consistent person-centred approach.

With thanks to Emma for sharing her story. If you're interested in supporting patients within a creative therapy role, check out our current job opportunities .