I’m an Art Psychotherapist and I have launched a social enterprise project inspired by my desire to improve access to mental health services in my community.

I have created GOPHAST (Green Owl Psychological Health and Safety Training) which provides preventative mental health training in line with HSE’s 2021 guidance on Psychological Health and Safety (ISO 45003).

The profits will fund free creative psychoeducation courses in the community.  The free course format is one that I am currently running for the service users of Northamptonshire Rape Crisis with great results.

I have worked in mental healthcare for 17 years, witnessing first hand the devastating effects of poor mental health. Once qualified, I opened my private Art Psychotherapy practice in 2014, and I love my job! But many vulnerable people have limited access to services that could be potentially lifesaving. I tried to come up with a solution to help them.

In my career, I have learnt countless approaches, techniques, and theories for mental health. But what if these “trade secrets” weren’t secrets? Could that help people manage their mental health better? Absolutely! I began developing a method of combining psychoeducation and Art Therapy, with an open group at the fantastic Bridge Substance Misuse Programme in Northampton.  I then created psychoeducation courses that improve wellbeing through creativity and self-awareness, sharing my knowledge of the science in an accessible and engaging way.

Any organisations interested in a proactive, creative approach to psychological health and safety, improved productivity, reduced absence and presenteeism, while supporting the local community, get in touch!  Look out for my workshop “Step Beyond Compliance Towards Success; The Science and Psychology of Stress and Burnout”, coming soon.

For more information or questions, please visit www.goarttherapy.org.uk or email goarttherapy.jt@gmail.com