Please briefly describe your clinical/medical experience to date?
I currently work as a year seven and eight Teaching Assistant at Abbey Court, a profound special needs school and soon will be studying to become an art psychotherapist. in this position I encourage and retain their high but realistic expectations enabling their independence to develop. It has taught me the value of non-verbal methods of communicating. I have learnt so much from this role, it is incredible to see the progress that I have made with the students throughout the year. I have gained an immense understanding of what special needs is. Where possible even when studying for my undergraduate degree, I have worked or volunteered with young people. As a Children’s Short Breaks Worker, I take special needs young people out into the community or help in their homes. This enables them to have enjoyable social experiences while developing my understanding of working with vulnerable children outside of a school setting.
What motivated you to enter paediatric care in the first place?
I have been captivated by art since a young child, loving the endless possibilities of experimenting with a singular medium. My ambition is to be part of a multidisciplinary team caring for children with complex and long term conditions in challenging circumstances. I want to use Art Therapy approaches to create safe spaces for vulnerable young people to enter an open, creative and mindful space. My aim is to enable these children and young people to express themselves through art, to release unconscious or suppressed emotions and to navigate their entangled feelings. This will complement the clinical care provided by other team members, making treatment and medical care more holistic. I have loved working as a Teaching Assistant and being part of my students’ development. Just looking back on them this year, I am so proud of all of them but I want to be able to make deeper changes to vulnerable young people similar to them. It is what has fuelled my interest in pursuing Art Psychotherapy within a paediatric team.
How will the funding from The Evie Dove Foundation help you to advance your career and your impact/services to children?
The Foundation are kindly helping fund part of my Art Psychotherapy course fees. Art Therapy (also termed Art Psychotherapy) is a therapeutic way of artmaking. It is a powerful way of helping children to access their emotions and feelings as they navigate challenging physical and psychological times in their lives. Creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes increases self-awareness. It also assists with symptoms such as the stress from traumatic experiences, their illnesses or treatment. A therapist would provide hospitalised children with opportunities to explore daily challenges, helping them to understand their thoughts and emotions, for example about uncertainty over their future. The therapist can also help medical staff understand what the child is experiencing regarding their illness. By listening to the child reflecting on their artwork a therapist can explore their expressive emotions. A therapist can also help prepare children for medical procedures, so reduce their anxiety. A therapist will work with children in areas unrelated to hospitalisation, giving them a chance to think about other aspects of their lives too. A therapist gives children a visual language to communicate their experiences to others, perhaps even to themselves. I hope by training in Art Psychotherapy I will be able to contribute to the care of children in some of these ways.
How did you find out about The Evie Dove Foundation?
I applied to the Evie Dove Foundation because my enthusiasm to affect change in young people closely align to the mission of the Foundation. Having read some of the Heroes’ stories, I am so impressed with how effective the Foundation has been. I am truly touched by Evie’s story and the effect Cuba had on Evie and your family’s lives. Similarly, to Cuba, my students were the final push I needed to get me to apply for the course this year.
Tell us about yourself!
For this course, I will be Studying at Queen Margaret’s University in Edinburgh for me and my partner this is an incredible move from Kent to Edinburgh. We are so excited to explore Scotland and complete some of the Munros. I love creating art independently and especially with my students, seeing exhibitions at the different Tate museums with my membership. I have a passion for playing piano and photography, taking photos of the natural world. I complete charity sporting event with friends, the next ambitious challenge is cycling the London to Brighton Bike ride in September 2024.
Anything else you would like to tell us about your experience, future aspirations and motivations?
I just cannot wait to affect change as an Art Therapist!
