CLEO HEARD
Hi, I’m Cleo and I am an art therapist.
Over the past decade, I have supported young people with complex emotional needs using the arts in all sorts of settings including schools, youth clubs, pupil referral units and secure units.
I studied for my Art Psychotherapy Masters at Roehampton University and graduated with First Class Honours. As an art therapist in-training, I worked for three years within the NHS Adult Mental Health Psychology and Psychological Therapies Department. During this time, I worked on an acute mental health ward, worked within community adult mental health teams and facilities, and delivered art therapy with individuals and groups. My MA research project focused on the benefits of art therapy for mothers and infants experiencing perinatal depression.
At Youth Arts and Health Trust, I work as part of a team of arts therapists to support children and young people with their mental and emotional health. Since working here, I have gained a developing interest in how we best support parents while their children are attending therapy and I am helping to develop a parental support group. Additionally, having received a diagnosis of dyspraxia as an adult, I am interested in how best to support those with neurodiversity when beginning and during art therapy sessions.
Next year, I am hoping to combine my first degree in Community Arts and Environmental Education with my art therapy practice, to explore how to take art therapy sessions into nature.
Outside of work, I facilitate creative journaling workshops for wellbeing, enjoy walking and expanding my own arts practice by using found materials.