What inspired me to train as integrative arts psychotherapist

My father, Nigel Purchase was a local artist, known for his paintings of local people in the Streets of Chichester.  As a young man, in the late 1950s, Nigel experienced challenges with his mental health and was very fortunate to be cared for by a forward thinking psychiatrist of the time: Dr Vawdrey. Dr Vawdrey worked at Graylingwell Hospital from 1954 for 30 years. He used art as a therapeutic treatment in his work; in time Nigel was able to regain a sense of wellbeing through the medium of art under the care of this empathetic psychiatrist.  Nigel then of course continued his passion for art in the rest of his career as a professional artist.  

Nowadays art and creativity is widely recognised as a way of easing depression, anxiety and processing life's challenges.  Art actities like drawing, painting and sculpting can help us better understand our emotions.  By engaging with our imagination we can maybe deepen self awareness by seeing and expressing our feelings in a different way.

I take a deep interest in the benefit of art and creativity, I am discovering how it can be used to deepen our sense of well being and mental health. I am trained as an Integrative Arts Psychotherapist, in which arts enable clients in their therapeutic journey.  I have a practice in Chichester and offer online and in person sessions, using talking and creative expression to work with people experiences mental health challenges.

The Creative Wellbeing Workshops you see on this website are designed to introduce anyone to the fun of creating using a variety of art mediums; by joining the workshop and finding your own rhythm for creative exploration I hope to introduce you to a life long wellbeing  practice.