Counselling and Therapies

Counselling falls under the umbrella term ‘talking therapies’ and allows people to discuss their problems and any difficult feelings they encounter in a safe, confidential environment.

The term can mean different things to different people, but in general it is a process people seek when they want to change something in their lives or simply explore their thoughts and feelings in more depth.
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A counsellor is not there to sit you down and tell you what to do - instead they will encourage you to talk about what's bothering you in order to uncover any root causes and identify your specific ways of thinking. The counsellor may then look to create a plan of action to either help you reconcile your issues or help you to find ways of coping.

Becky

I am a student counsellor who specialises in Person Centred Therapy. I have a passion for psychology and mental health, so facilitating a safe and non-judgemental space for my clients to explore and understand their emotions, reduce their emotional distress and achieve personal growth is a privilege for me. I am a Graduate Member of The British Psychological Society and a Student Member of The BACP.

Helen

 I am a retired Assistant Head teacher studying for a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling at Bury College. I am currently a placement counsellor with CLC

Mary

After retiring from the NHS as a midwife.  I decided to change career and find another way of helping people.  I am a qualified CBT counsellor as well as a Person Centred and I can facilitate in helping you manage problems by enabling you to recognise how your thoughts can affect your feelings and behaviour, offering an effective approach to emotional distress and issues.  I specialise in Bereavement and Loss counselling as well as anxiety and depression.  I work to the ethics of the BACP.  Confidentiality assured

Neil

Neil is a former member and volunteer peer mentor and co-tutor at the Centre who is now training for a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. His aim is to use his own experience of mental health recovery to help others on their healing journey.

Marina

My name is Marina Jones and I am in my 4 th year as a trainee psychotherapist working
with adults and children. I am a volunteer at the Creative Living Centre and have
service user sessions on a Monday afternoon and my specialism is in trauma and its impact.

My background is in social work where I have supported families for over 25 years with
positive outcomes and feel committed to supporting vulnerable individuals to reach
their full potential. I have various therapeutic qualifications and have a toolbox of
therapeutic interventions which I integrate into my psychotherapy sessions.
I am a member of HCPC and a student member of BACP.

Music Therapy

Music therapy is the use of music to help people whose lives are affected by illness.
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It is delivered by a registered music therapist who has been specifically trained to use music flexibly so that people of all abilities can access the benefits of music.

What happens in a music therapy session?
Everyone is different, so every music therapy session will be unique. The music therapist will invite you to join in with some music, listen to music, write a song or have a go on some instruments. You can leave a music therapy session at any time. Some music therapy sessions can be 1:1 (with other members of staff present) or groups of varying sizes. 

Sarah

Sarah Denman is a Nordoff Robbins music therapist based in Manchester.  She works for Nordoff Robbins 4 days a week (Tuesday-Friday), offering music in 3 SEN schools and an NHS mental health unit within a hospital. Originally she is from Worthing (near Brighton) and studied classical piano at the RNCM before doing the NR masters course, which Sarah completed in the summer of 2015. She continues to be inspired by music and how it can help people enjoy life even at the most difficult of times. 

Art Therapy

Art has long been known to have therapeutic properties, engaging in creative activities alongside an art therapist can increase well-being, and improve emotional expression.

Art making uses our pre-verbal skills, so it allows us to speak through our artwork when words are sometimes not enough, or hard to find. Art therapy can help people with a wide range of physical and mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, stress, chronic pain, autism and loss.
Through exploration in art therapy we can gain a better understanding of our emotions and feelings, the impact they have on our well-being and how past events can affect our ability to cope in the present. You do not have to be good at art to engage with art therapy, in the sessions we use the art materials to explore our feelings and emotions and therefore it is not always about the finished image or object but the process of making art and expression.

​Likewise, there are no good or bad images in art therapy so you can be free to creatively express yourself without judgement from the therapist, or others if in a group. The artwork created and the issues shared in the art therapy sessions, 1:1 or group, are confidential which allows people to explore with any of the art materials, or emotional content they wish, in a safe and supportive environment.

Anne-Marie

My name is Anne Marie, I am a qualified Art Therapist, registered to practise with the HCPC (the Health & Care Professions Council), and a full member of the British Association of Art Therapists. I lead a weekly art therapy group at the Creative Living Centre, and also offer individual 1:1 art therapy sessions. If you think art therapy may be beneficial to you please ask at reception for more details.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Tapping

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Tapping can help relieve stress and tension in your body.
Tapping involves stimulating sensory nerves under the skin and in the muscles. It has many benefits, can help relieve pain in the body.

Sue

As a Creating Better Chances Worker my main focus is developing and strengthen our ‘moving forward’ programme. I also run acupuncture and crafts group at creative living centre.

Yoga Therapy

‘And those who quip they’re not flexible enough to do yoga will be happy to know that if you can breathe, you can do yoga.’

Sara

I have been practicing yoga for over twenty years and have been privileged in that time to know and practise with a number of inspiring yoga teachers. My belief is that yoga is for all, I teach Hatha Yoga and am a member of The British Wheel of Yoga. 

I teach mindfully, guiding students inside to develop awareness and connect with their breathing. I plan my classes to balance asana (posture) work with breathing exercises, meditation and relaxation. 


My work as a person-centred counsellor has lead me to train to become a yoga teacher and to teach yoga and mindfulness in the community to adults and children. I feel yoga is a valuable tool to help combat the stressors of modern day living. I am also a qualified Independent Yoga Network Children’s Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher.