Jean Gascoigne

As an Art Therapist, Jungian Sandplay Therapist, Bereavement Counsellor, Trauma Informed School Practitioner, Trainer, Spiritual Director and Artist, I have many years of experience working with young people and adults particularly within the field of psychotherapy and the arts.

Art therapy works 'when words are not enough!'

When clients come to see me perhaps feeling incredibly stressed, anxious or generally struggling and aware that life is not in balance, the first thing I do is to reassure them that they do not need to have any artistic ability or talent in order to benefit from art therapy. I also want my clients to know that everything that is shared in this therapeutic environment is totally confidential.

Please note that following the Covid19 pandemic, I am still happy to offer art therapy or spiritual direction to clients through online sessions using Zoom.

At my private studio in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. I work with clients of all ages and aim to make the experience both stress free and as relaxing as possible. To assist in this, I have a wide range of creative materials available for clients to work with to express inner emotions and feelings, using pencils, paints, pastels, collage materials and clay.

Often times clients may feel drawn to experiencing Sandplay Therapy, which I also offer. This therapy is particularly invaluable where the client feels unable to use the creative materials available and instead choses to create an unspoken story or to express a mood or feeling within the sandtray. The client selects from hundreds of miniature objects available, those items which attract them most. These objects they place into the sand tray to illustrate what they cannot find words to express.

The overall aim of the therapies I offer is to enable my clients to process the difficult issues that hold them back from realising their full potential in life, in a safe and confidential setting.

As you will see on this website, I also offer spiritual direction in addition to a range of training courses and workshops including training in schools to respond to and ease the increasing levels of trauma and stress demonstrated not only by pupils but sometimes by staff too. Do have a look at my other pages on this site.

If you would like more information please contact me.