Re-Source Creative Arts and Trauma Therapy in Exeter
WELCOME
A warm welcome to Re-Source Creative Arts and Trauma Therapy .
- Deciding to have therapy and finding the right therapist may feel difficult whether you have had therapy before or are looking for the first time. I hope you will find the information on my website helpful in understanding the service I offer but you are welcome to contact me by text, phone or email for further information and with any questions you may have.
- All information you share with me will be kept confidential and there is no obligation to make an appointment. Click here to email me email contact form
- Re-source Creative Arts and Trauma therapy is based in Exeter so for face to face sessions, I am within easy reach of Exmouth, Honiton, Crediton, Tiverton and Totnes.
- I work with anyone aged 18 and over.
- I use an integrated approach combining Creative Arts therapy with other forms of psychological support including Trauma therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy
- As well as offering you an opportunity to work creatively if appropriate, and if you want to, I can offer you practical psychological information and skills for you to use as resources to support yourself
- I am trained and experienced in working with trauma and offer Trauma therapy for those who have had traumatic experiences in childhood or adulthood. My approach is based on the latest developments in Trauma therapy, is safe and effective and addresses the impact of trauma on the body and nervous system
- Whatever your reasons for seeking therapy are, I offer a warm, down to earth, non-judgemental and empathic approach and am sensitive to differences in ethnicity, culture, religious beliefs, gender, sexual orientation and ability.
- Everyone's needs are different and unique to them so I work with you to find out what you need , what you want to get from therapy and what approach best suits your needs. My job is to be alongside you, to support and facilitate you, and to work in way, and at pace, that is right for you
- It's very important to find the right person for you when looking for a therapist, so with this in mind I offer everyone an initial phone call followed by a first meeting to help you decide about working with me. To find out more about this and fees click First Meeting
" Your warmth and sensitivity helped me to look at my trauma in a way I never could do before ." client quote
What I offer
My name is Sharon and I have been working as a Creative Arts Therapist, in Exeter since 2008. I developed my Creative Arts therapy practice after completing my training as a Dramatherapist in 2008 and over the last ten years have developed a special interest in and been working with people living with the impact of trauma.
I use an integrated approach combining Creative Arts therapy along with other therapeutic models to offer a flexible person-centred approach to support you in the way that works best to meet your needs.
These other models include Trauma Focused therapy;Compassion Focused therapy, Mindfulness, and aspects of Dialectical Behaviour and Cognitive Behaviour therapy.
I believe that everyone has the capacity to develop their potential for recovery, growth, health and well-being and I am passionate about supporting you to do that. I understand that it can be difficult to talk about personal issues and that it takes time to build trust. I will listen to you without judgement and offer warmth, empathy and offer a safe, confidential and respectful space for you to do the work you need to do, in a way that supports and empowers you to enhance your life in the ways that you want.
I am experienced in supporting people who have experienced difficulties with :
- PTSD , Trauma and Abuse, including sexual abuse
- Depression, and Anxiety
- Managing Emotions
- Stress
- Relationship Issues
- Physical and Mental health issues
- Being a carer
- Life transitions such as parenthood/menopause/ageing/moving/divorce/separation
- Bereavement
- Addiction/ Eating disorders/ Self Harm
- Work related stress / Redundancy/Retirement
- Finding a new direction for their lives
My therapy practice Re-Source Creative Arts and Trauma Therapy providing creative arts therapy, trauma therapy and psychological support is based in Exeter and within travelling distance of the Totnes, Exmouth, Honiton, Crediton and Tiverton areas. I also offer telephone or online sessions
To find out more about me visit My Background.
What is Creative Arts Therapy?
"I found these sessions helpful in giving me permission to 'be' rather than always 'doing'. Creativity has been a catalyst for clarifying what I need." client quote
- Creative Arts therapy combines aspects of various arts therapies including dramatherapy, art therapy, music therapy and play therapy.
- As with many other forms of therapy,Creative Arts therapy aims to support people to explore and express their feelings and experiences, to develop understanding of themselves, their lives and relationships, and to make changes. Usually this process occurs through talking with a therapist.
- The difference here is that alongside talking we use a range of creative methods to support this process taking time to discover which methods suit each individual. These methods can include: drawing; clay work; writing/ working with stories/ myths, role-play, improvisation, enactment, movement, music, and ritual.
- And it's important to say that even when sessions are held online or by phone if you are interested in using creative methods these can still be useful for expression of feelings and exploring issues.
- The methods described above are just some possibilities to choose from. If you want to try some creative work, what you choose, and how much you choose to work in this way , is very much your choice
- Not all of our experiences can be put into words especially if they occurred in childhood and/ or involved some kind of trauma. A major advantage of a creative approach is that it offers a more indirect and distanced way of exploring issues and expressing feelings. In this way it can provide a greater sense of safety and containment to look at what may be difficult, painful and complex issues.
- No previous experience of creative arts is needed for this kind of therapy. The focus is not on the end product but on the creative process and how this can help you to express, represent and understand your feelings and experiences.
Trauma Therapy
- When people have traumatic experiences their safety is threatened and their body and mind react instinctively to try to protect and help them survive the overwhelming threat. These patterns of response are automatic and can become habitual long after the traumatizing experiences have ended, meaning that they can continue to feel unsafe.
- For those who have experienced trauma through abusive or neglectful relationships the impact on the mind and body can leave them more vulnerable to abusive / or at least unsatisfactory relationships in the future, and less able to engage socially and benefit from opportunities for positive experiences with others.
- People who live with the impact of unresolved trauma may find that they swing between a state of hyper- arousal and experience bodily symptoms such-: poor sleep/ insomnia, panic attacks, tension,shaking, being unable to relax, and a state of hypo-arousal where they feel shut down, numb, can’t think or feel and lack motivation. Or they may experience one of these states most of the time, or find that they function well in some areas of life but in others areas may be stuck in one of these patterns : for example functioning in work but avoiding social situations and relationships due to high anxiety levels and lack of trust.
- The Trauma therapy I offer has a somatic focus, meaning that it focuses on how traumatic experiences may have affected your body and mind in the ways described above. The focus in the first stage of therapy is on supporting you to begin to manage these symptoms to develop a stronger sense of safety and stability in yourself. In this way you are more resourced to manage your trauma symptoms and feel more able to manage the demands, and experience the positive aspects, of life.
Once a degree of safety is established in this way, therapy can then focus in more depth on the traumatic experiences if this feels appropriate for you.
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"For real change to take place, the body needs to learn that the danger has passed and to live in the reality of the present". Bessel Van Der Kolk
First Meeting
Starting therapy can bring up a range of feelings. These feelings might include anxiety about talking about personal issues that you haven't talked to anyone about before; embarrassment or shame about some of the difficulties you are experiencing; distress and confusion about what may help; you may feel ambivalent about taking time out to look after yourself or whether anyone else can understand or help you.
These feelings are understandable and whatever your reason for seeking therapy it is very important to take the time to find the right therapist for you, as well as the right therapeutic approach. For this reason I suggest we first talk on the phone and then arrange a first meeting so that we can explore whether what I offer is right for you and we can work together. To find out about more about this please visit First Meeting.
I offer sessions by phone, online or in person. So if you prefer to meet face to face and you live in Exeter or the Exmouth, Totnes, Honiton, Crediton or Tiverton areas , are interested in Creative Arts therapy, Trauma therapy or psychological support, and would like to find out more about Re-Source Creative Arts and Trauma Therapy please contact me by phone or email.
These feelings are understandable and whatever your reason for seeking therapy it is very important to take the time to find the right therapist for you, as well as the right therapeutic approach. For this reason I suggest we first talk on the phone and then arrange a first meeting so that we can explore whether what I offer is right for you and we can work together. To find out about more about this please visit First Meeting.
I offer sessions by phone, online or in person. So if you prefer to meet face to face and you live in Exeter or the Exmouth, Totnes, Honiton, Crediton or Tiverton areas , are interested in Creative Arts therapy, Trauma therapy or psychological support, and would like to find out more about Re-Source Creative Arts and Trauma Therapy please contact me by phone or email.
