“A good place to talk. No-one is being judged and I can talk about things I wouldn’t talk to anyone else about” (young person in group at Royal Alex)

I am a qualified Art Psychotherapist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a member of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT), Art Therapy Practice Research Network (ATPRN) and Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).

I am also a Yoga Alliance UK fully accredited teacher of yoga and mindfulness for teenagers.

I have developed a new art therapy service at the Brighton Health and Wellbeing Centre. Two groups are available for young people; under 12’s and under 18’s. Individual appointments are also available for adults and young people. Please contact me at BHWC on 01273 772020

I work on-goingly within the NHS at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton running an art therapy group for teenagers with chronic medical conditions. Charlotte Savins is the lead art therapist and can be contacted on 01273 523149

I post interesting articles relating to art therapy and mental health on my Facebook page: Saskia Neary Art Psychotherapy

Art therapy enables people to express their feelings and experiences, explore anxieties and develop confidence. Some issues are really painful or hard to talk about and using art materials can help to explore and express difficult feelings. You might find out more about yourself and that how you feel is important and matters.

My background: Children’s Rights and Youth Participation

I have worked for many years as a freelance consultant supporting organisations to develop young people’s participation; contributing to policy and decision-making and to have their say on a range of issues of importance. Organisations like UNICEF UK, Citizenship Foundation, Trust for the Study of Adolescence, Islington Pupil Parliament and National Children’s Bureau.

I have a firm commitment to supporting young people to say what they want and need to say. I also recognise that a young person can’t necessarily just come out with this – they might need convincing that I am going to listen, respect what they have to say and take them seriously. Perhaps, that they even have something worth sharing at all.

Young people need support and encouragement to work out how they feel about life and themselves. To do this they need to be safe, not judged and have someone they can trust, who is genuinely interested and committed to listening.

My training

Degree in Social Anthropology (University of Sussex) MA in Applied Anthropology, Youth and Community Work (JNC) (Goldsmiths, University of London) Art Foundation (City College, Brighton) and an MA in Art Psychotherapy (Goldsmiths, University of London). Yoga Alliance UK fully accredited teacher of yoga and mindfulness for teenagers.