Art Therapy Workshops & Creative Gatherings
My workshops bring together small groups of adults for art therapy-informed gatherings that support creativity, connection and emotional wellbeing. Whether you're looking for a moment to pause, a space to explore something that's been sitting with you, or simply a different way of being with others — no art experience is needed, and no two workshops are the same.
What are these workshops?
My workshops are small, facilitated gatherings led by a qualified art psychotherapist. They bring together adults who want to explore their inner world in a creative, supported setting — not as therapy, but as a space for reflection, connection and gentle self-discovery.
Using art materials, creative exercises and guided reflection, each workshop explores a theme — connection, self-compassion, transitions, belonging, or something seasonal and timely. The focus is always on the process rather than the product.
What you make matters far less than what it opens up.
Each workshop typically includes:
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Gentle, guided creative exercises
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Time for personal reflection
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Optional sharing within the group, always at your own pace
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Simple art materials — paper, collage, paint, pastels, clay
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A grounding or closing ritual to help you leave feeling steadier
How workshops can help
Workshops offer something a little different from one-to-one therapy, a shared space where the presence of others, and the simple act of making something together, can be quietly transformative.
They can be a gentle entry point into therapeutic work, or a valuable complement to it.
Attending a workshop can help you:
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Create space away from daily demands to pause and reflect
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Access your feelings through images, colour and metaphor when words feel hard
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Feel less alone by sharing space with others who are also exploring their inner world
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Nourish creativity and playfulness as resources for resilience
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Gently explore themes like belonging, grief, identity, change or burnout
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Experience the warmth and containment of a small, held group
What to expect in a typical workshop
Every workshop has its own shape and theme, but most follow a similar gentle rhythm.
Arrival and welcome
You'll be welcomed into a calm, prepared space. Groups are kept small to ensure everyone feels comfortable and held. There's no pressure to know anyone or to arrive feeling ready — you can come exactly as you are.
Opening check-in
We begin with a brief introduction to the theme and a simple grounding or mindfulness exercise to help you arrive fully and settle into the space.
Creative exploration
The heart of the workshop — time to work with art materials around a prompt or theme usually in silence. There is no right or wrong way to engage. Some people work quietly and reflectively; others find conversation flows naturally alongside the making.
Optional sharing
An opportunity to share your artwork or reflections with the group, always with full choice and consent. There is never any pressure to show or explain what you have made.
Closing
We end with a gentle closing reflection and grounding exercise, leaving space for things to land before you step back into the day. Information about future workshops and one-to-one therapy is always available for those who want it.
All workshops are facilitated by Debi Magonet an HCPC-registered art psychotherapist.
You are welcome to keep your artwork at the end of the session. If you have any accessibility requirements — including sensory considerations, mobility needs or anything else — please do get in touch before booking and I will do my best to accommodate you.
Who are these workshops for?
These workshops may suit you if:
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You're curious about art therapy but not yet ready for one-to-one therapy
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You want a contained, supported space to explore your inner world alongside others
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You'd like to reconnect with creativity and playfulness in a held environment
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You're navigating a life transition and want time to pause and reflect
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You're looking for something that feels nourishing rather than demanding
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You want to experience the warmth of a small, thoughtful community
These workshops are designed for adults and do not require any previous experience of therapy or art.
If you are currently experiencing acute distress, complex trauma or significant mental health difficulties, one-to-one therapy is likely to offer you more appropriate and sustained support. I'm always happy to talk this through if you're unsure which might be right for you.
Why choose workshops with me
As an HCPC-registered art psychotherapist and integrative psychotherapist, I bring a breadth of clinical experience that extends beyond talking therapy alone.
I have worked across the NHS, The Priory and the voluntary sector, with adults facing a wide range of mental health difficulties — and I understand that no two people arrive at therapy in the same way.
Working with me means you are never limited to one way of working. For many people, talking is exactly what's needed — and we work that way.
Where words don't quite reach what you're carrying, or where something feels too difficult to put into language, we have other ways in.
Research consistently shows that trauma and overwhelming emotion are often held in the body and brain as wordless, sensory experiences — beyond the reach of language alone. Creative approaches such as drawing, clay, sand tray or movement can gently access what talking sometimes cannot.
Who I work with
Reflective themed workshops
Gatherings built around a particular theme — connection, self-compassion, boundaries, grief, identity or new beginnings. Each workshop offers a creative and reflective space to explore what that theme means to you personally, in the company of others doing the same.
Seasonal and ritual-based gatherings
Workshops that mark the rhythm of the year — solstices, new seasons, endings and beginnings. These gatherings offer an opportunity to pause at natural turning points, reflect on what has passed and set intentions for what lies ahead, using creativity and shared ritual as the frame.
CPD and professional workshops
For therapists, educators, healthcare professionals and organisations seeking a creative reflective space for staff development or continuing professional development. These sessions draw on art psychotherapy approaches to support reflective practice, emotional wellbeing and professional resilience. They can be tailored to your team or organisation's specific needs and context.
Upcoming workshops
Details of upcoming workshops and events will appear here. Sign up to the mailing list below to be the first to hear about new dates.
Past workshops
These previous gatherings give a sense of the kinds of spaces we create.
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Creative Wellbeing Workshop — Alternatives, Watford
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Creative Wellbeing Workshop — Bucks Mind
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Creative Exploration - Sarrat Therapists
Contact me
You might still feel unsure about starting therapy, especially if you've been trying to manage everything on your own. That's understandable. There is no right way to begin. Turning up with your mixed feelings, speaking honestly about what life is like at the moment, and taking things one step at a time is more than enough.
If you have questions about starting therapy, or you're wondering whether it might be a good fit for you, you're welcome to get in touch and we can talk it through together.
Email me at debi@theartpsychotherapist.com, fill in the form below or call me on 01442 509 736.