Margaret McClory
MSc Art Psychotherapy
HCPC Registered
BAAT Full Member
I am an Art Psychotherapist living and working in Belfast.
My therapeutic approach is pluralistic and trauma-informed, centring around the needs of the client.
My practice is non-judgmental creating a safe space for clients to explore their inner self in a confidential environment.
I have worked with young people for over thirty years in schools and community settings. I also have experience working with people affected by cancer, self harm, anxiety, autism, eating disorders, bereavement, young people linked with youth justice agencies and in Beachcroft Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit.
I trained as a nurse and worked in A&E in the Ulster Hospital. I am also a post- primary teacher.
For many years I have facilitated programmes supporting young people and adults in exploring their spirituality and faith.
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art as its main mode of expression and communication. It's a way of exploring emotional issues and thoughts which may be confusing and distressing.
Therapeutic Benefits
Making art can help express emotions in a different way to talking. Sometimes it can be difficult to talk directly about traumatic memories and emotions. Sometimes the issue is not obvious and it's difficult to find the right words to describe what's going on, but the processes involved in art making and the images themselves can help explore this and find a language for what was previously unsaid. Using art and looking at images can allow us to explore our emotions in a compassionate way.
Being good at art is not necessary at all, just a willingness to give it a go.
Who is Art Therapy for?
Adults, young people and children.
Like other forms of psychotherapy, art psychotherapy is used to help towards understanding, healing and integrating emotions for personal growth. It can address a range of mental health issues such as:
- depression
- bereavement
- anxiety
- people affected by cancer
- eating disorders
- self harm
- confidence and self-esteem
- emotional support
- managing feelings and fears
- exploring spiritual aspects of living
When working with a professional art psychotherapist, everyone can benefit from participating in art psychotherapy.
About Your Art Therapy Session
One to one sessions last from 50 minutes to one hour.
Group sessions are made up of 3 to 5 people and last 90 minutes.
The art therapist will help you feel comfortable in a sale space as you move into art making. The therapist will provide a variety of materials such as; paint, clay, collage, wool, beads, oil pastels, pencils etc. for you to choose from.
The art you make is never judged as good or bad, it is the process of making the art and what it means to you which is important.
How Does it Work?
The client attends an assessment session, then weekly sessions for 12 weeks after which we evaluate and decide together if more sessions would be helpful.
Art therapy focuses on the process of making art, whether it be shapes, squiggles, a picture, collage, fabric, clay etc, not the finished product.
Your art is a vehicle for you to find your own meaning and its connections to your life. At times of trauma the brain can go into a state of paralysis or hyper alertness along with a sense of helplessness. Art, in the presence of a trained therapist, has the ability to reach beyond this state of unknowing where words can't always express the deep emotion or thought. Art therapy can be a path to discovery and insight to better understand and make sense of life
