Art Psychotherapist (HCPC, BAAT) & Creative Health Practitioner. Manchester, UK

Gemma Wrigley | Linktree

I’m a registered Art Psychotherapist (HCPC, BAAT) with experience in mental health roles within the NHS and voluntary sector since 2016.

As an art psychotherapist, I offer a non-judgemental space for exploration and reflection through the use of art materials, and talking. My approach is psychodynamic but I’m also inspired by the neuroscience of creative/sensory practices. A strong therapeutic relationship is vital to the efficacy of psychotherapy, therefore fostering safety, trust and a shared focus of the work is central to my practice; I work collaboratively with my clients to achieve this. 

In creative health, I work in co-production, co-facilitation and emotional wellbeing roles, usually alongside artists and other professionals. Held within safe boundaries, I believe that artmaking for pleasure, self-expression, mastery of skills and social connection can be a preventative and maintaining healthcare activity.


About me

Practice:
I enjoy working a diverse range of people but have most experience working with young people and women (including those at risk of/involved with criminal justice). I am also an environmentally conscious practitioner, so whether working indoors or outdoors, I offer opportunities to work with nature/nature themes and natural materials, if clients wish.

Research:
I appreciate the importance of research furthering the efficacy of therapeutic practice. I have won the 2026 early career research prize in the International Journal of Art Therapy for my paper about the holding environment in arts-based activities (see publications section)
 
My research interests are:
-Bridging arts-for-health/creative health and art psychotherapy, and which arts-based practices work for whom, when, why and how.
-Nature-based art psychotherapy

Career development: 
-Working with children and young people
-Nature-based practice
-Neuroscience of creative practices
-Systemic practice 

Work + research interests

Current Art Psychotherapy:

- Stockport Women's Centre (Sessional) 1:1 with adults

- One Education (Sessional) 
Mainstream and specialist schools, age 5-16
Adopted children (ASF)
Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC)


Art Psychotherapy - current + recent practice

Current Creative Health:

- Cartwheel Arts: Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner
Working collaboratively with an artist to support adults with physical and mental health needs to meet regularly to develop their art practice.

- Cartwheel Arts: Co-facilitator
Co-creation and delivery of a training programme supporting young people to become facilitators of an art-based wellbeing game (Wellbeing Dominos)

- Stockport Women's Centre: Group Facilitator. 
Co-creation and delivery of art-based psychoeducation for people who have experienced trauma, and creative wellbeing groups

Recent Creative Health Projects:

- RHS Rewilding Fairfield Gardens: Creative ways to wellbeing workshop
Public workshop for staff, patients and visitors to creatively engage with natural objects foraged from the hospital gardens

- A Creative Transformation (ACT2) with Lorna Collins and Eleanor May Blackburn. Providing emotional support for a writing workshop supporting people who have experienced brain injury

Creative Health - current + recent practice

Tickets

HELD is an artist collective based in Manchester. We produced art-based events and works for exhibition.

Forthcoming events: 

HELD: A response art event. 26th March 2026
HELD is a space for you. A place of creative rest, somewhere to slow down and listen up. A co-produced, collaborative experience of art making and music; listening and responding. A place to find your rhythm, the rhythm of the room or the season.


HELD Collective

CV available, request via email ✉️

CV available on request 

www.gemmawrigley.com

About Art Psychotherapy

What's it like to experience Art Therapy?

Publications

Practitioners' experiences of holding comparing art therapy with arts-for-health activities. Early career researcher prize winner

Lessons from beech masts, for clinical practice and beyond. By Gemma Wrigley – The official blog of BMJ Leader

Gemma Wrigley

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Gemma Wrigley

Art Psychotherapist (HCPC, BAAT) & Creative Health Practitioner. Manchester, UK

About Art Psychotherapy

Publications

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