Emma Compton

I am a highly motivated and experienced individual with over 23 years of professional engagement in educational settings, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), and private practice. My expertise encompasses both short and long-term therapy with individuals. Additionally, I have extensive experience providing clinical supervision to both seasoned therapists and trainees.

At the core of my therapeutic philosophy is the belief in fostering a sense of profound care for life. My primary goal is to create a secure and nurturing environment where individuals can begin to explore their potential and cultivate resilience. Establishing a stabilizing therapeutic relationship and providing a consistent, safe space for treatment, I endeavour to facilitate the acceptance and appreciation of knowledge that empowers them to construct a new and promising future.

Engaging in counselling requires a genuine personal commitment and involvement. While it may present challenges, it is essential to maintain faith in the transformative process, which can liberate us from self-limiting narratives, emotional turmoil, and fear, ultimately leading to healing. Psychotherapy and counselling offer an opportunity to develop a fresh perspective on how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world around us.

As a professional, my commitment lies in providing assistance to individuals in distress, whether through face-to-face sessions or virtual platforms. I am dedicated to helping them navigate their challenges and discover the most suitable path for their well-being.

Difficulties and struggles can often remain concealed, even from the individuals experiencing them, until they reach a point where they can no longer be overlooked. My aim is to offer a secure and supportive environment where these issues can be acknowledged and addressed. Untreated difficulties have the potential to significantly impact one’s quality of life and lead to feelings of isolation, depriving individuals of their fundamental right to feel safe and hindering their ability to share and resolve their emotional pain.

However, with the right support and guidance, positive change can be achieved. My approach centre's on empowering individuals to overcome their obstacles, fostering resilience, and promoting personal growth. Together, we can work towards creating a more positive and fulfilling life journey.

Art psychotherapy offers a safe, confidential space to explore thoughts, feelings and experiences that may be difficult to express in words alone. Using creative materials alongside conversation, art can help make sense of emotions, memories and experiences that feel overwhelming, confusing or hard to articulate.

You do not need to have any artistic ability or experience. The focus is not on creating a piece of art, but on using the creative process as a way of understanding yourself. Some sessions may involve painting, drawing, collage or working with clay, while others may be primarily conversational. Together, we will find an approach that feels comfortable and meaningful for you.

From a psychodynamic perspective, the images created in therapy can offer gentle insight into unconscious thoughts, emotions and patterns that may have developed through earlier life experiences. Rather than analysing your artwork, I work collaboratively with you to explore what your images mean to you and how they relate to your current experiences.

Alongside this, I value the humanistic principles of empathy, acceptance and respect. I believe that every person has the capacity for growth and healing when offered a safe, compassionate and non-judgemental therapeutic relationship. My role is to support your own process of discovery rather than direct it, recognising that you are the expert in your own life.

Where appropriate, I also incorporate approaches informed by current evidence and trauma research. Creative work can help give form to difficult emotions, making them easier to understand, process and manage. Art can provide a gentle way of approaching experiences that may otherwise feel too overwhelming to talk about directly.

The therapeutic relationship is at the heart of my practice. I aim to provide a warm, thoughtful and supportive environment where you feel heard, respected and accepted. Together we can explore your experiences at your own pace, using creativity and conversation to foster greater self-awareness, resilience and emotional wellbeing.

Professional Registration

In the UK, the titles Art Therapist and Art Psychotherapist are protected by law. I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which regulates the profession and ensures high standards of education, training and professional practice. I am also an accredited member of BACP, BAAT, and EMDR UK.

Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and explore what has brought you to counselling. We will discuss your current concerns, any relevant background information, and what you hope to achieve through therapy.

This session is also a chance for you to ask any questions you may have about the counselling process, how I work, and whether you feel I am the right therapist for you. There is no pressure to commit to ongoing sessions, and we will work together at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

Before or during our first meeting, I may ask you to complete a brief assessment or intake form to help me gain a better understanding of your needs, history, and goals. Everything you share will be treated with respect, confidentiality, and without judgement.

By the end of the session, we will have a clearer understanding of your needs and, if appropriate, agree on the next steps and how we can work together to support your wellbeing.

How I Work

I offer clinical supervision in a collaborative, reflective and supportive environment where practitioners can explore their clinical work with confidence and curiosity. My approach is grounded in the belief that effective supervision promotes safe, ethical and competent practice while supporting the wellbeing and professional development of the supervisee.

I work integratively, drawing on psychodynamic, humanistic and trauma-informed perspectives. Supervision provides a space to think together about clinical material, therapeutic relationships, transference and countertransference, ethical dilemmas, risk, safeguarding and the emotional impact of the work.

Rather than offering solutions or directing practice, I encourage reflective thinking and collaborative exploration. I aim to create a supervisory relationship that balances support with constructive challenge, enabling supervisees to develop confidence, autonomy and clinical judgement while remaining mindful of professional standards and the needs of their clients.

My supervisory practice values curiosity, empathy, openness and respect. I recognise that each practitioner brings their own strengths, experiences and ways of working, and I tailor supervision to meet individual learning needs and stages of professional development. Whether you are a trainee, newly qualified or experienced practitioner, supervision offers an opportunity to deepen clinical understanding, strengthen reflective practice and sustain resilience in your work.

As a registered Art Psychotherapist, my supervision is informed by ongoing clinical practice, regular supervision of my own work, continuing professional development, and adherence to the ethical frameworks and standards of the HCPC, BACP, BAAT and EMDR UK.

I offer a warm, confidential and non-judgemental space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences at your own pace. Whether you are facing anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, or navigating life changes, I aim to support you in developing greater self-awareness, resilience and emotional wellbeing.

As an HCPC-registered Art Psychotherapist, I work integratively, drawing on psychodynamic, humanistic and trauma-informed approaches. Alongside talking therapy, I offer the option of using creative materials such as drawing, painting, collage or clay. You do not need any artistic ability or experience—the focus is on the process of expression and reflection rather than creating artwork.

What to expect from your first session

The first session is an opportunity for us to begin building a therapeutic relationship and explore what has brought you to therapy. We will discuss your current concerns, any relevant background information, and what you hope to gain from our work together. This helps us develop a shared understanding of your needs and consider how art psychotherapy may best support you.There is no expectation to use art materials during your first session. We will work at a pace that feels comfortable for you, and you will always have the choice to use creative materials, talk, or a combination of both.

As part of the initial assessment, I will explain how I work, discuss confidentiality and its limits, answer any questions you may have, and ensure you have the information needed to make an informed decision about continuing therapy. If appropriate, we will also agree on therapeutic goals and consider the most suitable way of working together.

My practice is grounded in professional and ethical standards, with regular clinical supervision and ongoing professional development supporting safe, reflective and effective practice. Any discussion of clinical work within supervision is fully confidential and anonymised in accordance with HCPC, BAAT and BACP ethical guidance.

By the end of the session, you should have a clearer understanding of the therapeutic process and whether you feel we are the right fit to continue working together.