Sue Coombes

As  well as being a Child Arts Therapist having  gained my postgraduate diploma at the Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (https://artspsychotherapy.org/index.php) I am also a qualified teacher with 30 years experience of working with autistic children and young people, specialising in those with a PDA profile. 

I also hold qualifications in Equine Assisted Learning and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy and am a mindfulness teacher trained by the Mindfulness in Schools Project (https://mindfulnessinschools.org/about/)

I offer arts and nature based sessions outdoors at my privately owned wood where I support neurodivergent children and young people to recover from trauma caused by the education system and to develop a positive self identity. 

As a late diagnosed autistic person I am very well aware of the impact of masking on the emotional wellbeing of neurodivergent children and young people and have supported many girls whose presentation has not been recognised by professionals as part of their individual autistic profile. 

I am able to work with CAMHS, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Educational Psychologists, Teachers and other professionals to advocate for my clients and their families. 

Sessions take place in my privately owned 6 acre wood where the children and young people are supported to feel safe, accepted and valued for who they are, to identify their strengths, and to understand their individual personality and how their neurodivergence is part of this in order to build a positive identity for themselves. 

As children with PDA/PDA profile need to  autonomy in order to feel safe, my work is non-directive and I work with them to support them to identify the areas they would like support with. 

Each session is child led and there are opportunities for a wide range of outdoor activities including fire building. 

I also have a variety of art resources including modelling clay, puppets, musical instruments, sand and paint which can be used outside or in my caravan on site. 

My rescue Dog, Daisy, accompanied all sessions unless requested otherwise. 

The first session is an opportunity to meet up, explore the woodland and various activities, and to explore what the child or young person would like help with. 

Parents are able to stay on site if needed by their child but we would aim to work independently when they are able to. 

The fee for the first session is £35