psychotherapy at old dairy studio

At Old Dairy Studio we offer tailored Integrative Arts Psychotherapy sessions with our in-house psychotherapist. In our dedicated therapy room (or the main studio space for larger, messier work), our therapist uses a combination of talking therapies and the arts to enable you to heal.

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What is Integrative Arts Psychotherapy?

Integrative arts psychotherapy is a form of therapy that utilises creative arts methods, such as visual art, drama, music, and movement, to facilitate emotional expression and personal growth. It combines various therapeutic approaches and creative modalities to help individuals explore their inner world, gain self-awareness, and develop coping mechanisms. This approach is particularly helpful for those who find it challenging to express themselves verbally. By providing opportunities for non-verbal expression, it enables individuals to communicate thoughts and feelings that may be difficult to articulate in words, fostering an environment of self-discovery and healing.

Our therapist creates a supportive and non-judgmental environment where clients feel comfortable exploring their inner world through creative activities. Clients engage in art making, drama exercises, or other creative activities to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Our therapist helps clients interpret the symbolism and metaphors embedded in their creative work, gaining insights into their inner landscape. Through creative expression and reflection, clients can process difficult emotions, work through trauma, and develop healthier coping strategies. By engaging in creative activities and reflecting on their experiences, clients gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their patterns, and their potential for growth.

The therapeutic process can be calming and grounding, helping to reduce anxiety and stress while fostering a supportive atmosphere for healing. This approach is particularly effective for processing trauma, offering gentle methods for exploring and working through painful experiences. As clients achieve personal successes and insights through creative expression, their self-esteem and confidence frequently grow, reinforcing a positive sense of self and encouraging further development.

Meet Our Therapist

Kira is an Integrative Arts Psychotherapist. She has a BA (Hons) in Fine Art and is in her final year of a four year Masters at the Institute of Arts in Therapy and Education, and will be fully qualified in Summer 2026. She specialises in a Integrative approach, tailoring her knowledge to help her clients with their specific needs. She has experience helping people in a variety of areas, including depression, stress (burnout), anxiety, bipolar disorder, neurodiversity, childhood sexual abuse and PTSD. Having spent 16 years in the Army, Kira decided to train as a Psychotherapist after becoming frustrated with the military mental health system and from volunteering at Tedworth House in Tidworth. Kira hopes to work with both civilians and military in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Integrative Arts Psychotherapy (often referred to as Art Therapy) is frequently misunderstood as an mindfulness art class or an art analysis session. Here are a few FAQ'a to dispell the myths!

Q: Do I need to be good at art?

A: Not at all. Art Psychotherapy is about the process of creating rather than having a masterpiece at the end of the session. No prior experience in art making is needed!

Q: Will you be analysing me through my artwork?

A: No. Art Psychotherapy is a collaborative process where the client takes the lead. As therapist, I will ask you questions about your work, but I won’t be analysing you through it.

Q: Do I have to make artwork?

A: No, we can use the other arts such as drama, bodywork, poetry, or we can just talk. Whatever you feel comfortable with. However, the arts do help to understand unconscious process and are a great tool for any therapeutic setting.

Q: What is the benefit of Art Therapy over other talking therapies?

A: Integrative Art Psychotherapy uses theories and techniques from talking therapies and combines it with the arts to give you a more holistic approach to psychotherapy. The arts can help clients connect with their unconscious and become aware of thoughts and feelings that are difficult to talk about. The art brings a ‘third person’ into the room to talk through when feelings become overwhelming and can act as a regulation tool when talking about difficult subjects. Artmaking is done alongside talking therapy and can speed up the recovery process.

Q: What happens in a session?

A: We usually start with a check in to see how you’re feeling before using the arts. We then spend some time reflecting on your artwork and what thoughts and feelings it has brought up for you.

Q: Is it real therapy?

A: Yes! Integrative Arts Psychotherapists require a Masters level qualification, at least 100 hours of client work and to be aligned with a professional body. Kira is in the last year of a 4 year Masters, has over 200 hours of client experience and is registered with HPCP as a student, working towards UKCP (450+ hours) registration. She is also a member of the British Association of Art Psychotherapists (BAAT).

Q: Is this for Children or Adults?

A: Although children respond really well to Art Psychotherapy, Kira specialises in working with adults rather than children. If you are interested in Art Psychotherapy for your child, please get in touch and I will send you some recommendations, or visit https://baat.org/ for a list of qualified Art Psychotherapists in your area.