Elinor Rowlands MA FRSA (BAAT, HCPC) PhD Candidate, Neurodivergent Art Psychotherapy, Coaching, and Arts Mentoring
Hi, I’m Elinor (she/they)
Welcome to my therapeutic space, where folks of all ages can explore their inner worlds through the transformative power of art and alternative means of expression.
My practice is committed to honouring and affirming neurodivergent and/or LGBTQIA+ identities, and trans-feminist perspectives. I believe that therapy should be a sanctuary for self-expression, growth, and healing.
As a provider of neurodivergent-led therapeutic, coaching and mentoring services, I create an inviting and inclusive space for individuals who are struggling to cope with their mental health and daily life.
I practice integratively, which means I work with you and tailor our therapy to you and your needs. No matter your ethnicity, gender or gender non conforming identities, sexuality, age, or disability, you are welcome here in all your glorious selfhood.
I see clients online on Zoom.
What I Do
My first priority is to support you in reducing any immediate anxiety or crisis. Then we will work together to create an environment where you feel relaxed enough to explore and develop your strengths, your skills, your resilience, and your coping mechanisms to continue your life journey.
I wear many different hats and there are various ways we can work together.
Art Psychotherapy
Art psychotherapy combines talking therapy with art-making and sometimes we might spend more time on one or the other. Our sessions are all about using art materials to unmask and explore our true selves. If words have ever felt inadequate or too difficult in expressing how you feel, art psychotherapy offers a different way into your emotional and psychological landscape.
You don’t need to have any experience, be “good at” art, or even think of yourself as a creative person. There’s no wrong way to make art.
I am a BAAT and HCPC-registered art psychotherapist.
Arts Mentoring
As an arts mentor, I support artists, makers, creatives and creators across all art forms. Just some of the areas we can work on together include:
Artist development
Building your creative practice
Writing about your work
Applying for opportunities
Developing an artistic project
Pitching your project to funders
Planning, creating or maintaining an artist website
Creating your artist CV or artist statement
Applying for Access to Work support
Autism and ADHD Employment Coaching
I help people who are autistic and/or with ADHD to navigate the workplace and the realities of thinking and experiencing life differently in a neuronormative world. We can work on areas such as executive functioning, communication, interpersonal skills, self-advocacy, skills development, and avoiding or recovering from burnout.
I usually work with senior corporate professionals or those in artistic and creative industries, but I can work with people from a wide variety of sectors.
I usually meet with employment coaching clients once a week. If you’re disabled or neurodivergent and live in the UK, employment coaching can sometimes be paid for through Access to Work.
Specialist Mentoring and Study Skills Specialist
I work as a Specialist Mentor and Study Skills Specialist with disabled university students. Whilst my practice is now primarily focused on therapy, mentoring and coaching, I still work with a small number of university students who need support with their studies and practice.
Training and Consultancy on access in the arts
I am available as a consultant on access in the arts and creative sectors, and art psychotherapy. I can be booked for training, panels, or talks.
Crip Doula
There is currently no formal training for crip doulas, unlike birth or death doulas. My practice is shaped by disability justice and the work of activists such as Stacey Park Milbern, who coined the term “crip doula,” and Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu.
I understand crip doula work as the quiet, often unseen practice of disabled people supporting one another through the shifting landscapes of illness, access, change, and care. In our work together, I offer a space of accompaniment; sharing knowledge, advocacy, and gentle support as you navigate your own path in a world not always built with disabled lives in mind.
Who I serve
I primarily work with neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ people, but I am also happy to support clients outside these communities who would prefer to work with a neurodivergent practitioner.
You do not need to have a formal diagnosis of ADHD, autism, or any other neurodivergence to work with me, and I support self-identification. You don’t need to conform to any particular gender or sexuality, or even have words to define your identity. Whoever you are, I will meet you with autonomy, respect, and support.
Adults
I offer personal therapy for individual adults in which we’ll use art, writing or other creative means for you to explore your feelings, express yourself, identify your needs, and develop your self-knowledge and wisdom. I can also support you in identifying access barriers and reducing them. If being verbal is inaccessible for you, we’ll find other ways to communicate and try things out in whatever ways feel safe and supportive to you.
Couples
Art therapy can help LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent couples to build stronger relationships through creative collaboration, unmasked communication, and conflict resolution.
Children
If your neurodivergent child has been failed by previous practitioners, working with a neurodivergent therapist can make all the difference. I provide a compassionate space where your child’s autonomy is respected. I can also help you to apply for disability benefits for your child.
Adolescents
Teenagers who are questioning their identity or facing challenges, from bullying to mental health struggles, need a safe and respectful environment to navigate these difficulties. In adolescent art therapy, we’ll use creative work to help your teenager explore their emotions, express emotions that may be difficult to verbalise, and build resilience as they transition to adulthood. I am experienced in working with non-verbal teens and those experiencing selective or reactive mutism.
Families
Family therapy sessions offer a supportive environment to navigate complex family dynamics. These sessions can promote more effective communication, greater understanding, and stronger connections through shared creative experiences within neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ families.
Art Psychotherapy Trainees
It’s essential for therapists to have their own regular therapy. If you are an art psychotherapy trainee seeking a neurodivergent art psychotherapist, I would love to work with you to help you build a sustainable practice that supports you while you support your clients.
Being human can be difficult, even harder if you or someone you love is neurodivergent and experiences life as a square peg in a round hole.
Being Human, original art by Elinor Rowlands
Why Work With Me?
Accessible and Compassionate Care
I offer a safe, supportive, and non-judgemental space where clients can unmask, be themselves, and engage in meaningful creative work with a professional who “gets it.”
Therapy That Embraces Who You Are
I specialise in working with neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ clients and take an affirming, client-led approach that starts from the principle of “you are the expert on you.”
Highly Trained Specialist
As a trained and accredited art psychotherapist, arts mentor, employment and Autism/ADHD coach, I provide specialist support tailored to your emotional and access needs and unique situation.
I have regular supervision, am being mentored by three neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ affirming professionals, and take part in 150-200 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) annually. I am also a PhD Fine Art candidate investigating the contributions of autistic stimming as an artistic methodology.
Redefine yourself and your arts practice in ways that feel empowering, supportive and important in arts mentoring with Elinor.
Due to my neurodivergence, I work with many different hats.
Art Psychotherapy
I am a BAAT and HCPC registered art psychotherapist. Art therapy is a mixture of verbal therapy (talking) and art-making. We use art materials when words can feel or be too inaccessible or difficult to use.
Arts Mentoring
I support artists in the arts across all art forms.
Artist development
Support with developing your art practice.
Writing about your work
Applying for opportunities
Developing an artistic project
Pitching your project to funders
Planning, creating or maintaining artist website
Support with artist CV
Support with artist statement
Support with applying to Access to Work.
Autism and ADHD Coaching (aka. employment coaching)
Sometimes this can be paid for by Access to Work (if you’re disabled or/and neurodivergent).
I support people into job roles, with job interviews or whilst they are in employment. I meet with them once a week for employment coaching.
Specialist Mentoring and Study Skills Specialist
I work as a Specialist Mentor and Study Skills Specialist with disabled university students. This is paid for by Disabled Student Allowance.
Training and Consultancy on access in the arts
I am available as a consultant on access in the arts and art psychotherapy. I can be booked for training, panels, or talks.