Rachel Taylor Abbots, Art Psychotherapy

17/05/2026

What is art therapy?

Perhaps the real question is 'what is 'your' art therapy?'

We know that art therapy is an established form of psychotherapy that uses creative expression - like drawing, painting or sculpting - alongside talking to help people process emotions, manage mental health and improve wellbeing (BAAT), but what would it actually look like for you?

The thing I find most interesting is that when each person comes into my therapy room, they are unique, with their own individual personality, background, and situation, and often know what it is that they need from therapy. It might be to work through some difficult or complicated feelings, or to address anxiety due to upcoming exams, a bereavement or to help to re-discover 'you' again.

My role as therapist is to provide a safe space where together, through talking and artmaking, we can find what it is that 'you' need, and take that journey together. It may well involve learning some coping strategies, thinking about how your brain works, using artmaking to relax or to work through things, and you may feel you need something different each time, and that's the great thing about it; each journey is unique.

If you'd like to book some art therapy sessions in central Ledbury or would just like to know a little more, feel free to send me a message 😊

09/03/2026

It's Conductive Education Awareness Week, and today we were having fun painting while I was visiting the amazing Megan Baker House in Ledbury.
Art therapy can be so beneficial for many people, encouraging neuroplasticity, cognitive function, motor function, social skills and emotional expression.

30/01/2026

Rachel Taylor Abbots says art materials can provide an alternative way to externalise complex issues.

30/01/2026

🎨
“Sometimes it can be hard for people to talk about things, and the art materials provide an alternative way to externalise complex issues.”

Meet Rachel, one of our volunteer art psychotherapists, who visits St Michael’s Hospice each week to support patients through creativity, compassion and care. Art therapy can offer a gentle way to explore thoughts and feelings when words feel difficult, creating space for expression, reflection and connection.

💬 Have you ever found creativity helped you express something you couldn’t put into words?

21/01/2026

I'm excited to have a lovely new therapy room in central Ledbury!
Having a private space where you can dedicate some time in the week to yourself can be incredibly beneficial.
Art therapy is a creative way to communicate your thoughts and feelings, give your mind and body a focus and may even help you to rediscover yourself! Sometimes a subject or feeling may come up that is difficult or challenging. Using the art materials we can start to work through them, helping you to find clarity and a way forward.
I have experience working with children, young people and adults with issues including neurodivergence, anxiety, depression, existential anxiety, loss and grief.
If you would like to find out more, or book a session, you can send me a private message or contact me directly on 07512 823 132.

07/01/2026

It's so important for staff in all settings to engage in something that can help them to avoid burnout, because taking care of ourselves is essential.

🔥 Art therapy sessions could cut the risk of burnout by half, a study of London medics suggests. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust worked with 129 doctors, nurses and other health professional from London hospitals to study the effects of group art therap...

13/10/2025

I'm Rachel, an art psychotherapist. You don't need to be 'good at art' at all to do art therapy! It's more about the process...

Art therapy is an effective type of psychotherapy that uses artmaking, usually alongside talking, as a way of expressing, exploring and working through complicated or difficult feelings and events. Artmaking can help in a number of ways:

* It can sometimes feel easier to express something initially through art materials, and then talk about the artwork (although you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to)

* Some people think more visually than others

* Creating and reflecting on artworks can help make sense of a feeling or situation

* Artmaking can be relaxing or a positive distraction.

Sessions are either in person (in Malvern or Ledbury) or online. Online art therapy sessions can be more accessible or convenient for some people, and you don't need to buy anything expensive. If you don't have art materials, a pen or pencil and the back of an envelope is absolutely fine, or artmaking could even be arranging small objects you collect from around your home.

I have a person-centred, compassionate, trauma informed approach. I have experience working with both children and young people and older people with a range of presentations.

I have a Master's degree in Art Psychotherapy, I'm registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and I'm a member of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT).