Sarah Wilson – Creative Arts Therapy

Kia ora, I am a professionally registered Creative Arts Therapist passionate about engaging the arts in therapy as a deeper way to access and express feelings and emotions. Words alone are often inadequate or even impossible to speak in the wake of traumatic experiences, the arts can step in and fill this void in profound and transformative ways. Research is recognising that memories and emotions related to painful experiences become stored in the body keeping us trapped in old patterns and pain. Arts therapy offers ways for deeply felt experiences to be acknowledged and released in a contained way allowing for deeply transformational shifts to occur.  

My belief is that each and every person has the ability to uncover their own path to wellbeing. We are often blocked by belief systems that are not of our own making but have been imposed on us by family, social systems and the contexts and circumstances of our lives. Finding our authentic voice, having our experiences witnessed and validated, along with learning to become better at feeling and experiencing our whole range of emotions goes a long way towards living a life with less suffering. To be truly seen and heard without judgement, for emotions to be welcomed, felt and experienced alongside you, to experience compassion and understanding in a sacredly held space – it is here that true transformation begins to happen.

I have worked extensively within the intellectual disability community, including work with serious offenders in forensic secure hospital settings. I also have experience working with anxiety and depression, trauma, grief and loss, relationship issues and identity and self-esteem issues. 

Working with people who are experiencing the psychological effects of infertility is an area of personal interest to me having been through my own journey to come to terms with being childless not by choice and understanding what that means for existing within a pro-natal society. The benefits of arts therapy for people struggling with infertility and the associated grief was the focus of my Master’s research and I would l like to further this area of my work by offering my experience and understanding with anyone who is struggling and is in need of support.

Using a strengths-based, person-centred, collaborative approach my intention is to foster and increase a sense of agency, empowerment and wellbeing as we work together on the various challenges faced in life.

Utilising a person-centred approach means that every client is understood as a unique being, therapy therefore unfolds as a collaborative process experienced differently by each and every individual.

No art experience is necessary, I will guide and travel alongside you on this journey.