CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, ADULTS
Kellie High
Kellie High is an Art Psychotherapist, supervisor, and psychotherapist with over 22 years of experience across the NHS, education, social services, and six years in private practice. She has worked with older adults, including clients with dementia and Alzheimer’s, and has experience supporting individuals in forensic settings and those with challenging behaviours.
Kellie works with children, adolescents, adults, older adults, neurodiverse clients, and individuals with learning difficulties or disabilities. She combines her extensive professional experience with a person-centred, trauma-informed approach, creating a safe and supportive environment where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered. Offering both talking therapy and art psychotherapy, she tailors each session to the unique needs and goals of the individual.
Professional registration: HCPC
Languages spoken: English
Availability: Blackheath & Online
Fee: £100 (reduced rate for trainees and students)
Kellie's approach and qualifications
Art therapy is an established form of psychotherapy that combines creative expression with talking, guided by a trained art therapist. You do not need to be good at art to benefit from art therapy. The value lies in what your artwork represents for you, rather than its appearance.
During sessions, clients are supported to use art in a sensitive and safe way to explore complex emotional experiences, process trauma, and reflect on thoughts and feelings that may be difficult to express verbally. Artwork becomes a tool for understanding, growth, and self-expression, and can help clients make sense of past experiences and move forward with their lives. Kellie works closely with clients to explore the thoughts, memories, and emotions that emerge, fostering insight, emotional regulation, and overall well-being.
Kellie’s Specialisms
Children and Adolescents
Kellie supports children and adolescents in exploring attachment, early experiences, trauma, and developmental challenges. She works collaboratively with families and carers when appropriate, addressing academic or learning difficulties, emotional regulation, family dynamics, identity, sexuality, and experiences of loss or grief. She also helps neurodiverse children and adolescents develop coping strategies, emotional understanding, and self-expression.
Adults
With adults, Kellie focuses on processing past experiences, attachment patterns, trauma histories, and relational dynamics. She supports clients in navigating challenges related to identity, career and education transitions, interpersonal relationships, and mental health and well-being. Her approach is highly individualized, helping clients explore and reflect on emotions and memories in a safe, containing environment.
Older Adults
Kellie works with older adults to explore long-standing relational patterns, unresolved emotional conflicts, and life transitions such as retirement, bereavement, or changes in social roles. She supports emotional resilience, reflection, and communication, helping clients enhance well-being and the quality of late-life relationships.
Learning Difficulties and Disabilities
Kellie supports individuals with learning difficulties or disabilities to understand and express their experiences, develop coping strategies, and build self-awareness. She integrates psychoeducation, mentalisation, and creative expression to empower clients to manage their mental health, navigate daily challenges, and strengthen identity and self-esteem.
Trauma and Emotional Well-being
Across all client groups, Kellie applies a trauma-informed, person-centered, and psychodynamically-informed approach. She helps clients process trauma, manage emotions, and gain insight into their thoughts, feelings, and relational patterns in a safe and containing environment.
Qualifications
PG Diploma in Art Psychotherapy
Foundation in Art Psychotherapy
Diploma in Supervision
BA Hons in Public Art and Design
Foundation in Decorative Arts
Additional training in CBT, DBT, EMDR, and Mentalisation with Art Psychotherapy
