Maia Kruger

Registered Integrative Arts Psychotherapist HCPC/UKCP

http://www.songololofeet.com

maia@songololo-feet.org.uk

07941618228

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Profile

Hello, my name is Maia, I’m originally from South Africa and have spent most of my adult life in London.

I offer a cultural and gender sensitive trauma-informed approach weaving Integrative Art Psychotherapy principles with threads of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), somatic experiencing and Neuroception.

I have over ten years’ experience working as a registered Integrative Art Psychotherapist coupled with 25 years’ experience facilitating Art therapeutic Activities to hard to London communities under our co-founded Arts organisation Songololo-feet.

As a dyslexic person, I often found difficulty expressing my thoughts and feeling with words, and as such I turned away from traditional talking-based therapy and found a new language to express myself and understand others.

This way of embodying complex theoretical concepts and re-introduce these back into our community in a digestible grassroots form has helped many people and make getting well accessible to all.

The therapeutic relationship is based on trust and mutual respect, guided by the client’s development.

I work with a wide range of presenting issues: Post traumatic stress disorders, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD)schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and neurodiversity.

Introduction to Art Therapy Integrative Art Psychotherapy serves as a powerful tool and resource, offering opportunities to work through difficulties without becoming retraumatised.

Art therapy as a trauma informed approach aids the retrieval of suppressed or forgotten information through both our right brain functioning and somatic experiencing. Neuroscience research indicates that our left-brain function goes offline during traumatic events and therefore offer a considerable amount of weight to the above mentioned. This is helpful as often highlights where we have become stuck causing internal and external conflicts with self and others.

Non-Verbal Communication: Many individuals find it easier to express complex emotions and experiences non-verbally. Art therapy allows survivors to communicate their feelings through symbols, colours, and forms, often leading to a deeper understanding of their emotional landscapes.

Self-Exploration and Reflection: Art making encourages individuals to explore and reflect on their thoughts and feelings. Through the creative process, they can examine their personal narratives, highlights where we have become stuck causing internal and external conflicts with self and others and leads to insights and revelations pivotal for healing.

Stress Relief and Emotional Regulation: Engaging in creative activities has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels. The mindfulness aspect of creating art can help stabilize emotions, offering survivors tools to manage overwhelming feelings.

Empowerment and Agency: Art therapy fosters a sense of agency as participants make choices through their creative expression, allowing them to reclaim control over their narratives.

Social Connection: Working collaboratively on projects, individuals build connections with peers and foster a sense of community, enhancing their support networks for quality of life.

Boundaries

The main purpose of the therapeutic conditions – set time, set fee, ethical framework is to create and maintain a safe space in which to facilitate this development. The conditions help to create a professional working alliance, to feel seen, heard and responded to.

In my private practice I work in person, telephone and telehealth bringing my years of experience as Artist, Artist in the community and Integrative Art Psychotherapist together in an informed simple and inclusive approach.

Information

£100 per session / £75 sliding scale for students

I work on Monday and Thursday’s days in person.

Online and evening are available at other locations.

Group sessions available. Please make contact for further information.