Art Therapy
Art Therapy in Huddersfield with Laura Lee: Healing Through Creativity
In my practice I often meet children, young people, and adults who are struggling with feelings that are hard to put into words. Sometimes the pain is rooted in early trauma or disrupted attachments; sometimes it comes from anxiety, depression, or the challenges of living in a world that feels overwhelming. For some, talking therapy can feel too direct, too exposing, or simply not the right fit.
This is where art therapy offers something unique. At Therapy Huddersfield, we are proud to have Laura Lee as part of our associate team — an HCPC-registered Art Psychotherapist with extensive experience supporting children, families, and adults to explore and process their inner world through creative expression.
What Happens in Art Therapy?
Clients sometimes worry that they need to be ‘good at art’ to take part in art therapy. This isn’t the case at all. Art therapy is not about producing a finished piece of work — it’s about the process. The materials, the colours, and the shapes become a language in themselves, allowing thoughts and feelings to be expressed in ways that words cannot always capture.
In a session, Laura might provide paints, clay, or collage materials. Some clients want to talk while they create; others prefer to focus on the making itself. Over time, the artwork becomes part of the therapeutic conversation — offering a safe distance to explore emotions, memories, and hopes.
Meet Laura Lee
Specialist art therapist who works alongside children, adults and families.
Laura has worked for many years with children and adolescents, particularly those who are neurodiverse, adopted, or who have experienced significant trauma and abuse. She has supported young people in specialist autism provisions and in therapeutic services for adopted families, helping them find ways to express what feels too big, too complex, or too painful to put into words.
Alongside this, Laura enjoys working with adults. Some are seeking help with trauma or complex mental health concerns; others wish to integrate therapy with their own creative interests and art styles. She also has a special interest in family work, where parents and children make art together as a way of strengthening bonds, rebuilding trust, and navigating difficult relationships.
Laura offers sessions both from her art therapy studio in Armitage Bridge and at our Therapy Huddersfield practice in Edgerton. Her warmth, creativity, and clinical expertise make her a valued part of our team.
Art Therapy and Trauma
One of the most powerful applications of art therapy is in supporting recovery from trauma. Research has shown that working with clay, for example, can reconnect children who have been abused with their sense of touch, safely reawakening physical sensations that may have been blocked out (Murphy, 1998). The act of shaping or sculpting can allow anger or fear to be expressed outwardly, rather than turned inwards (Ambridge, 2008).
Symbols and images often provide a bridge between unspoken memories and new narratives. As Gantt and Tinnin (2007) note, creating an image of trauma can help clients consolidate overwhelming experiences, making them more manageable to integrate into the present.
In Laura’s work, this might mean a young person paints their ‘stormy feelings,’ or a parent and child make something together that represents safety. Through the act of creating, new possibilities for healing begin to emerge.
Who Can Benefit from Art Therapy?
Art therapy can support people across all ages and backgrounds. At Therapy Huddersfield, Laura frequently works with a range of clients including:
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Those who have experienced neglect, abuse, or trauma; children on the autism spectrum; young people with ADHD or PDA who find traditional therapy too demanding.
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Dyadic art therapy provides a shared space for parents and children to rebuild attachment, improve communication, and experience safety together.
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Whether facing trauma, anxiety, depression, or significant life changes such as menopause, art therapy offers a safe, creative outlet to process complex emotions.
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Specific challenges include self-harm, addictions, chronic illness, or simply the need for a non-verbal way to reflect and explore.
Working with Laura at Therapy Huddersfield
Laura offers sessions at both our Edgerton practice and her studio in Armitage Bridge. Each session lasts around 1 hour. The fee is £85 per session, which includes all materials. If you would like to know more, I am always happy to talk through whether art therapy might be right for you or your family, and to match you with the most suitable therapist in our team.
Sessions last one hour
£85 per session -including all materials
Who can benefit:
Children, adults and families
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. Art therapy is about expression, not artistic skill. The value lies in the process, not the product.
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Yes. Research and clinical practice both show that creative processes allow clients to externalise traumatic memories in a safe way, helping them regain control and integrate difficult experiences.
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Absolutely. It provides a non-verbal means of communication, helps with sensory regulation, and can build self-esteem.
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Yes. Shared creative sessions can strengthen bonds, improve communication, and foster understanding.
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While counselling relies mainly on talking, art therapy brings in creative expression as a parallel language — often reaching parts of experience that words alone cannot.
Art therapy opens doors for people who may find words too difficult, overwhelming, or limiting. In Laura’s safe, creative space, children, families, and adults can begin to express themselves, build trust, and find new ways to heal. If this sounds like something that could support you or your child, please do get in touch. My contact details are below, and I’d be glad to talk more about how Laura or one of our team might help.
