Welcome to Self Portrait Art Therapy
What's On Offer
I’m Shona Young, a qualified Art Psychotherapist and Integrative Counsellor registered with the IACP. I work exclusively with adults, offering one-to-one therapy, group workshops, and downloadable resources. I work in-person in Dublin, Ireland, and online globally. I work with a variety of topics, including trauma, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, grief, identity, neurodivergence, relationship difficulties, everyday stress, self-esteem, and more. My approach is integrative, meaning I tailor therapy to the individual, drawing from different therapeutic approaches according to each person's needs. Art therapy remains at the heart of my practice, offering another way to explore experiences that may be difficult to express in words alone.
Art therapy can be the bridge between what people feel and what they can express. Creativity offers a way to approach overwhelming or unclear experiences when talking feels impossible or limited. Research suggests that art psychotherapy can be an effective treatment for a range of mental health difficulties, with many people finding that combining creative expression with conversation helps them access emotions that are difficult to put into words. In our work together, you can use words, images, or a mixture of both, whatever helps you access what needs attention. My role is to support you through that process at a pace that feels manageable and safe.
Many of the people I work with tell me they struggle to explain how they're feeling, or that talking alone hasn't fully helped. Art psychotherapy doesn't require artistic skill. The creative process simply offers another way of exploring emotions, memories, and experiences that can be difficult to express verbally.
If you’d like to explore whether therapy with me is the right fit, I offer a free discovery call. It’s simply a chance to connect, ask questions, and get a sense of how we might work together. To book, fill out the form at the bottom of this page or email me at selfportraitarttherapy@gmail.com
Self Portrait
The name Self Portrait Art Therapy reflects my belief that you are the expert on your own life. Our lives are shaped by experiences, thoughts, emotions, ideas, relationships, and inner connections that only we can truly know from the inside out. In therapy, my role is to support and guide your exploration of your own mind and being, not to interpret it for you. I believe deeply in the healing power of art and its ability to help us access and express what words often cannot. Through the creative process, you’re able to look at different parts of yourself and make meaning from your experiences in a way that’s uniquely your own. In that sense, therapy becomes a metaphorical self-portrait, one that you create through reflection, expression, and self-understanding.
