Karen Sawyer Art Therapy Services
Welcome!
You made it to this web page, I imagine you have been searching for the support that feels like a good match for you. Perhaps it’s for a loved one or for yourself. Or perhaps you are interested in a career in Art Therapy, and are searching for personal therapy; or you work in the field of mental health with children and adolescents and you are seeking support for your clinical work (Clinical Supervision). These are just some of the areas I can support you with.
I’m Karen Sawyer, the founder and Principal Art Psychotherapist at Karen Sawyer Art Therapy Services. I specialise in working with children, young people, concerned parents and carers. As a mental health specialist the range of issues I work with is extensive – problems of mood, behaviour, and self-image; with those on the autistic spectrum or with subtle neuro-developmental difficulties; with historical traumas, transitions and changes in life circumstances.
Struggling with worries, concerns, or very strong emotions like sadness and anger is not uncommon in children or adults. Usually our first response to stress, is to experience sensations in our body. These sensations can be so distressing or uncomfortable that we try to ignore them, or dampen them down, or we act on the feelings. What we struggle with, is putting into words what is troubling us.
There is a lot more attention paid to stress these days. However, changes in behaviour or personality leading to challenges in family life, school or socialising are often warning signs that we are struggling under pressure.
In Art Therapy, we focus on your experiences, your feelings, your thoughts. Art making within a consistent therapeutic relationship offers a safe space to start to make sense of these, together.
If you are looking for improvements in how you feel, how you behave, and to increase your focus, attention, concentration and reduce anxiety and depression, then why not try Art Therapy.
Coming to Art Therapy sessions allows changes to happen within the individual, as well as within their relationships. Difficulties at work, school or within social circles reduce and our ability to do well increases. If you are a parent or carer, I offer a space to reflect on your child’s emotional world and to make sense of their behaviour. As a result, parents find new ways of responding and being with their child. Family’s also find that their stress levels reduce.
Where We Can Help
Some of the diagnosed conditions and areas of difficulties which Karen Sawyer works with in Art Therapy:
Parent Carer
emotional, sexual or physical abuse, neglect
bullying
Children And Young People

Karen Sawyer
I trained as an Art Psychotherapist at Hertfordshire University, as I was inspired to work with people using art as a form of communication. I have continued to expand and develop my skills through a variety of training courses including at Post Graduate level. Keeping updated on evolving ideas and understandings of child development and mental health is part of my passion.
Consultations

INDIVIDUALS
Individual therapy for
Children
Adolescents
Students in therapeutic training
Children, young people or adults who can benefit from art therapy may have a wide range of difficulties, or diagnoses. People experiencing emotional difficulties can find that their focus on school, work, hobbies or relationships can become affected.

PARENTS
Therapeutic consultations with parents and carers
To help you develop an understanding of difficult behaviours which may be unsettling your child or family. Therapeutic consultations can also enable you to consider the most effective way to support you child in order to fulfill their potential.

PROFESSIONALS
Working with children and young people, clinical supervision, consultations, support and mental health advice to professionals working with children and young people.
I offer:
o Clinical Supervision
o Consultations
o Support
o Mental Health Advice to professionals
Problem solving
Exploring any relationships that they you may struggle with and that may stir up powerful feelings
Raising awareness of mental health and emotional wellbeing, and training relating to specific issues.

SMALL GROUPS
Creative Therapy themed Workshops.
These offer a chance to experience creativity within a small group run by an art therapist on a short term basis. To express your interest in attending a group, please email Karen Sawyer.