MA Art Psychotherapy, Shoshana Stern

My art therapy practice is based in London. I am a qualified art psychotherapist who is registered with the Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC) and the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT). I qualified in 2019, and I have worked with individuals of all ages and backgrounds, including infants, adolescents, and adults, to help them address a variety of concerns through the power of art therapy.

My background and service

Art therapy takes a different approach to traditional talking therapy. There is no requirement to be skilled in art. As the name suggests, art therapy utilises creativity and when appropriate, verbal communication, to provide a channel for healing of emotional, behavioural and situational difficulties. Regardless of age or background, there may be instances where an individual may not have the words to express their feelings or perhaps find it too difficult to communicate their feelings or thoughts.

I aim for my art therapy practice to aid exploration of the difficult emotions so they can be uncovered and addressed in a healthy way within a safe, non-judgmental, confidential environment. I am psychodynamically trained, which means I encourage my clients to think about their life experiences and support them to build awareness of their conscious and subconscious mind, which ultimately guides the way one acts and experiences life.

I have a keen interest in Somatic Therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS), which I incorporate into my therapy practice. This is different from traditional art therapy practice; however the evidence base indicates these complementary therapy combinations offer a means for profound and effective healing.

My passion to help others through means of art therapy motivates me to continuously self-reflect on my practice and search the evidence base for innovative therapy approaches and tools to improve client experience and quality of care (see self-developed Lasting Impressions therapy tool). My drive to help others has led me to run free art therapy workshops and support those from diverse backgrounds in community projects and groups. To ensure I can provide consistent support, I offer pay-per-session art therapy in one-to-one and group sessions.

Some individuals I have worked with have come to me:

to free themselves of their life-limiting habits,
overcome troubling feelings following grief or loss,
with behavioural difficulties,
with mental or physical difficulties,
following diagnoses,
with illnesses,

and to ultimately provide them with the tools to lead a fulfilling life without the need of ongoing therapy.

Please feel free to read testimonials from clients I have worked with and browse art therapy related content on my Socials.

I found Shoshana to be comfortable and capable in her role as a facilitator. She put me and the group at ease and seemed to have genuine care and compassion for all involved.

"A workshop with Shoshana is an amazing experience, she creates a really welcoming, inclusive space that helps you find what is hidden in you through art."

"I had the most wonderful experience at the festival workshop led by Shoshana. Her insights were incredibly helpful and I left feeling inspired and empowered. Shoshana's workshop was a highlight of the festival. Her warm and welcoming energy created a safe space for everyone to explore themselves and to connect to others. I highly recommend attending a workshop by Shoshana. She is a gifted therapist with a unique ability to connect with people on a deep level."