Menu of creative counselling and relaxation techniques:
If you would like to incorporate these into your counselling, please let me know. I may suggest things through the course of our therapeutic journey, but as this is person-centred counselling remember you are in charge, so if you want to try any of these out, please say so.
Some exercises we can do in the moment, others I may need to prepare, so please give me at least 48 hours’ notice if you would like to try one of these techniques.
Some exercises we can do in the moment, others I may need to prepare, so please give me at least 48 hours’ notice if you would like to try one of these techniques.
Creative counselling
Work with clay
Online or phone
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You’ll need
Clay, natural clay preferably, but air-dry clay or even plasticine or playdoh can work. You'll also need a board to work on, an apron, a knife or cheese-wire, and if you like stamps or natural objects to press into the clay. |
Why clay?
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Work with clay is grounding, tactile, mindful, and meditative, we can literally manipulate a lump of earth into something beautiful or useful or both. Using clay therapeutically can enhance our sense of ourselves, timelessly. Creating with clay is a multi-sensory and holistic experience: we can let our conscious and unconscious emotions, desires and ideas shape our creations. We can also release emotion by wedging (pounding) out air bubbles or squishing down rejects. It’s also a beautiful metaphor for change and growth as the lump of earth transcends into a piece of art.
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Online sand tray
Online
You'll need:
To access your session through zoom.
To access your session through zoom.
Why online sand-tray?
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Working with a sand tray creates a safe and boundaried environment which can allow us to express emotional issues that are difficult to put into words.
This technique has been developed by HG Wells (yes really!), Carl Jung, Dora Kalff and Margaret Lowenfeld. Although when working online we lose the tactile nature of the sand, we gain accessibility, and an almost endless choice of symbols to represent our emotions! |
Work with stories and characters
Online or Phone
You'll need:
An image of a favourite character, or a book or comic where they feature. Or you may want to bring pens or pencils to draw them, or have technology handy to search for images.
An image of a favourite character, or a book or comic where they feature. Or you may want to bring pens or pencils to draw them, or have technology handy to search for images.
Why work with stories or characters?
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Work with photos, cards, and images
Online
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You'll need:
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Why work with images ?
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Images can be powerful when words are not enough, they can link to deeper or unexpressed feelings.
Photography can be empowering as a form of communication and expression. It can also be therapeutic, as like mindfulness, you can find yourself in flow or deep concentrate, which can calm the mind. There are also powerful metaphors we can explore around seeing things from a different perspective We can explore your photographs, or work on a collage. |
Work with art and colour
Online or Phone
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You'll need:
Felt tips, crayons, pencils, or paint, and paper. If using paint don't forget brushes, water, a plate or palette, newspaper and a cloth. |
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Why work with art and colour?
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Art and colour can be a link to deeper feelings.
By explore your relationship with colour you can learn which colours soothe and relax you, and which colours inspire or motivate you. Using art in counselling can build self expression, explore communicate emotions, and build and recognised inner strength. Work with mandalas can be grounding and doodling can be powerful. We can link drawing to visualisation and storytelling through a longer exercise. |
Work with words and poems
You'll need:
A pen and notebook, or a phone or tablet.
A pen and notebook, or a phone or tablet.
Why work with words and poems?
Using words creatively and reflecting on them can be a meaningful link to deeper feelings; uncover insights and unlock creativity. We can reflect on existing poems together, or, follow prompts, or freestyle to write poems or prose that is meaningful for you, that we can then explore together.
You don't need any previous experience of creative writing.
You don't need any previous experience of creative writing.
Relaxation techniques
Mindfulness
Online or Phone
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Mindfulness blends modern psychology and the ancient wisdom of meditation to help us live more fully and with a greater sense of perspective. It is the awareness that arises from paying attention to our experience in the present moment, with curiosity, compassion, and acceptance. I can guide you to experience each of your senses, through a body scan and to focus on the breath.
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Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness
Online or Phone
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Mindfulness aids empowerment and resilience, however mindfulness meditation can exacerbate symptoms of trauma. As a trauma-informed counsellor, my gentle and careful approach can help you to access mindfulness in a safe way.
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Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Online or Phone
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In progressive muscle relaxation, you tense a group of muscles as you breathe in, and you relax them as you breathe out. You work on your muscle groups in a certain order.
When your body is physically relaxed, it is harder to be anxious. So it is an effective stress relief technique. |
Visualisation or guided imagery
Online or Phone
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This practice of creating a detailed mental image of an attractive and peaceful setting or environment. It is helpful if you share with me the sorts of environments that you find relaxing and if there are any triggers you might want to avoid. We can combine this with creative counselling to draw or write about the experience.
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Grounding techniques
Online or Phone
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Grounding can help you feel more connected to the present, and can be helpful when feeling anxious, dysregulated or dissociated.
These short exercises can be done at the end of any of the above techniques or on their own, or before or after traditional talking counselling. I can also send you some of these to do in your own time. |
Drawing mandalas
Online or Phone
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Mandala drawing was first practiced by Tibetan Buddhist and then developed by Carl Jung. Studies have shown that drawing mandalas improves our wellbeing.
Drawing mandalas can help to bring peace, calm and tranquillity, they can help with concentration, and make it easier to be mindful, as they can push aside thoughts and let your creativity flow. |
