Mizgin Arslan

Hello and welcome!

I offer individual therapy sessions for children, young people, and their families, as well as therapeutic groups for all ages, incorporating a variety of art forms and bodywork techniques.

All individual sessions for children take place in person, using creative tools such as art materials, toys, and games to help clients explore their feelings, express themselves, and build confidence in a safe and supportive environment. I also offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation to discuss your needs and explore whether my approach is the right fit.

Therapeutic Art Group for Adults

A Therapeutic Art Group for Adults began at CUFOS Community Centre, Muswell Hill.

A new evening group will start in January, designed for those who work during the day.

For more information, to discuss individual sessions, or to book a place in a group, please contact:

📧 shahmarantherapy@gmail.com

I am a BACP-registered Creative Arts Child Counsellor with an undergraduate and master’s background in biology and art. I also hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Arts and a Diploma in Child Counselling. I work with children and their families, offering a compassionate, creative, and relational approach to supporting emotional and psychological well-being.

Working with Children

My practice is centred on child therapy, using a child-led, arts-based approach that helps children explore and express their feelings, thoughts, and experiences safely. I use creative media such as art materials, toys, sand trays, play, movement, and storytelling to support natural, non-verbal and verbal communication. Sessions are designed to be developmentally attuned and nurturing, helping children build emotional resilience, confidence, and self-understanding.

I have experience supporting children across schools, charities, and community settings, working with a wide range of emotional, social, and behavioural needs.

My Approach

I tailor each session to the individual child, drawing on a variety of creative and therapeutic methods—including drawing, role play, movement, storytelling, and gentle talk—allowing children to express themselves in the ways that feel most authentic and comfortable. All child sessions are held in person, ensuring a grounded and secure therapeutic environment.

In my full-time work in Hackney, I support a diverse community and welcome children and families from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds. I am fluent in two additional languages and bring international experience to my practice, fostering an inclusive, respectful space where every child’s story matters.

As a Creative Arts Child Counsellor, I offer a warm, safe, and child-centred therapeutic space where children can explore their feelings, experiences, and inner world at their own pace. My approach supports emotional regulation, resilience, confidence, and healthy expression through creativity and relationship.

I trained at the Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE), a leading centre for integrative and arts-based therapeutic practice. My training includes a Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Arts and a Diploma in Child Counselling, with a strong focus on child development, attachment, play, and creative communication.

In sessions, children are invited to use art materials, toys, sand trays, movement, storytelling, and imaginative play. These approaches help children express themselves in ways that feel natural and safe, especially when feelings are difficult to put into words. Therapy can help children make sense of their emotions, develop coping skills, and feel more secure within themselves and their relationships.

I also use gentle grounding and sensory-based practices to support emotional regulation and help children reconnect with a sense of calm and safety.

Child counselling is a supportive journey that unfolds over time. There may be moments when big feelings emerge, but this is often part of healing and growth. With steady support and a nurturing therapeutic relationship, children can experience greater confidence, emotional clarity, and a stronger sense of well-being.

I offer a 60-minute initial assessment session at the same fee as a standard child session. This extended time allows us to explore what has brought your child to counselling and to begin building a shared understanding of their needs and experiences.

For children, the first session is held with the parent or caregiver only. During this meeting, we talk through your child’s developmental history, family dynamics, relationships, significant life events, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and your observations of their emotional or behavioural challenges. This information helps me form a holistic picture of your child’s world and the factors that may be affecting their wellbeing.

The initial session also gives you space to ask questions, understand how creative arts therapy works, and consider whether my approach feels like the right fit for your child and family.

The aim of this first meeting is to create a safe, respectful starting point where your concerns are heard, and we can begin shaping a supportive therapeutic plan together.