Rhoda Freeburn Art Therapy

25/08/2026

I spent most of the weekend in Belfast on training with an art therapist who works mainly with clay. We looked at kids and young people who disconnect from their bodies after trauma, and looked at how sensory work in therapy can support them getting back in touch with their whole selves. Im ready for lots of mess this week!

29/07/2026

Inside the Art Therapy Room #5
"We get so used to trying to figure things out with our thinking brain. Sometimes we dont even see things clearly with that part of our brain. That's because underneath it all, the earliest developed part of our brain (the brain stem-it basically let's us know if we are safe or not) is in overdrive-it's hijacking everything else because it hasn't caught on that the danger has passed. Maybe we can communicate with that part of your brain-the bit that nearly needs to be soothed like a wee small baby or toddler. What about playing-not trying to think about what to make/draw? I can do it with you to start with if it helps? You never know, your thinking brain might be able to see things and communicate differently over time"

28/07/2026

Inside the Art Therapy Room #4

"What if....we didnt run away with your trauma story today-it can be easy to get stuck there and get sucked into its vortex. What if we take some time to find something in the room that you can work with that helps you feel safe. One suggestion (and its only that!) could be to make a 3d piece of 'somewhere safe'- real or imaginary. Maybe you can remember with your body as well as your mind, what that place is like/what it might be like. Little by little we can touch into the bad stuff; weave it into the wellness you are building in yourself so its not as overwhelming to your whole nervous system".

06/07/2026

Ive been putting up some "inside the therpay room" posts...I might continue. These are not explicity from any particular case....rather, some themes that generally come up in art therapy, and some "sayings" and phrases ive picked up and developed along the way through practice. The posts are supposed to demystefy a profession that is still misunderstood, and also to step away from the psychobabble which can be hard to understand for people looking in. The posts are also to show that kids and young people in therapy are treated as their own person....that they have autonomy in the room and are taken seriously

06/07/2026

Inside the Art Therapy Room #3

"So, I guess they think maybe you can get a bit angry? Maybe you've got stuff to be angry about though? That makes sense - to be honest it might be strange if you weren't angry about that. We can listen to your anger in here, and look at it too. Anger needs a bit of time on it's own sometimes. You can actually learn HOW to be angry in here...give it expression with art stuff, and noises, and movement too....and words."

02/07/2026

Inside the Therapy Room #2
"I wonder if you are feeling a little bit nervous being here for the first time? That's pretty normal. You don't know what to expect. I'll let you into a little secret: even I get a wee bit nervous meeting people for the first time. Or, maybe you'll have had some expectations but it won't be like what you thought at all. The good thing is that we aren't in any rush. How about I show you what's in the room here. We can have an explore. The stuff in here is yours to use in whatever way you like when you come here....that is, of course if you choose to come back, because after all it is your decision. It seems like maybe you haven't had a lot of choice over some big things that have happened in your life"...

01/07/2026

Inside the Therapy Room #1
"Every child and young person deserves to feel the best they can in life. In this space we will work together at remembering what that is like for you..."

25/06/2026

"My approach places strong emphasis on building a positive relationship with the child or young person. I work at the young person’s pace, using empathy, curiosity, and a genuine interest to understand their experiences. Building rapport and creating a space where they feel heard, respected, and understood is central to my practice, as I believe positive therapeutic change is rooted in the quality of relationship."

Every child and young person deserves to feel the best they can in life. My role as an art therapist is to help children and young people to use creative processes as a way of exploring their world and working through any difficulties or problems the...

31/03/2026

I'm doing some CPD and listening to Mark McConville on Adolescence. I wrote down a bit of what he said because he said it so perfectly 😍
"When a newborn enters the world, they have neurons that are called mirror-neurons. When they open their eyes and there is this buzzing and confusing matrix of visual data. Somehow the mothers face stands out to them as more relevant than other visual sensation. That is because they are pre-programmed to be in relationship. That mother who looks in that child’s eyes…that is the beginning of a message. That message says – YOU ARE RELEVANT."

29/01/2026

Private sessions available at the Sandel Cente, Coleraine....Tuesday and Wednesday evenings

Every child and young person deserves to feel the best they can in life. My role as an art therapist is to help children and young people to use creative processes as a way of exploring their world and working through any difficulties or problems the...