Alison Peebles
Tel: 07593 523161
Welcome to my website. My name is Alison Peebles. I have highly specialised professional experience working as an Art Psychotherapist for 14 years working for volunstary and statutory organisations in mental health and cancer care. I have extensive experience as an Art Psychotherapist providing specialist Art Psychotherapy assessment and treatment to individuals and groups utilising evidence based assessment and treatment models. I have worked with adults, children and young people who can experience a variety of symptoms and conditions; many of them chronic and enduring/complex conditions, including mental health problems e.g. depression, anxiety, stress, eating disorders, personality disorders, schizophrenia and physical health problems which can have an impact on emotional wellbeing e.g. cancer and palliative care.
What is Art Psychotherapy/ Art Therapy?
Art Psychotherapy, also known as Art Therapy* is a psychological treatment which uses creating art, listening, talking, and thinking in the presence of an Art Psychotherapist. Sometimes people can be emotionally distressed about their previous experiences, present circumstances or their illness. For some people talking about these may be difficult. Art Psychotherapy can be effective in treating a range of conditions or providing support for people in facing life challenges e.g. physical illness, bereavement, relationship and communication difficulties. A study of women who had breast cancer showed that depression was reduced and there were positive effects in their quality of life. (Oster et al 2006). Art psychotherapy is also shown to be effective in reducing the negative symptoms associated with Schizophrenia (NICE 2009). *Art Therapy is also known as Art Psychotherapy, the titles are synonymous and both are protected by the Health Professions Council.
How can Art Psychotherapy help?
The process of making art within the safe, accepting relationship with the therapist can allow people to express feelings that may be hard to put into words, therefore offering a different way of understanding and processing emotional problems. Improving self expression and communication within a therapeutic relationship can help by reducing feelings of isolation and help to contain emotions which may then reduce stress, depression and anxiety.
What are the Arts Therapies?
The need for the arts is a defining human characteristic. They endure because they have a unique power to help us to feel and make sense of experience. However, where there is a psychological vulnerability this power cannot be said to be innately helpful. The arts therapies professions have spent over 60 years developing practice, theory and research to understand the therapeutic potential of the arts in the care environment. They also have extensive experience in managing potential risks and developing safe practice with their clients. The arts therapies group is made up of the four separate professions of Art, Dance- Movement* Drama, and Music Therapies. The arts therapies can be defined as being committed to understanding and utilising the therapeutic potentials of both psychological therapy approaches and the art form employed.
In bringing together the aesthetic and psychological domains, the resulting practice is unique. Many people find they can use the arts when other interventions are not possible. The arts are not just a vehicle for a talking cure, but with the correct facilitation, the experience of the arts can act as a processing resource. In the hands of a skilled arts therapist, the artistic medium can be a safe, containing and enable forms of communications where words are not enough. (Arts Therapies Professional bodies 2009) * At 2010, Regulation by HPC for Dance Movement Psychotherapy is pending.
Who are Art Psychotherapists?
Art Psychotherapists are one of the Allied Health Professions (AHPs) registered by the Health Professions Council (HPC) and are bound by the British Association of Art Therapists and the HPC ethics and standards. He or she will have a degree in Art or a related field and will have worked in education, health or social services prior to undergoing a post-graduate training in Art Psychotherapy. 
Art Psychotherapists have considerable understanding of art processes underpinned by theoretical models.