Ellen Herbert, child and adolescent art psychotherapist based in North Dublin

My story

I'm Ellen, a child and adolescent art psychotherapist based in North Dublin. I work with children and young people aged 6 to 18, using art as a way to help them express what they might not yet have words for.

Children don't always tell us how they're feeling. Sometimes they can't. Art psychotherapy gives them a different way in, through drawing, painting, and making, in a space where they feel safe, seen, and accepted.

I've worked with children in some of Ireland's most demanding clinical settings, including the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Tusla. That experience taught me that every child, no matter what they're going through, has the capacity for growth and healing when they're given the right support.

I understand that it can be difficult for children and adolescents to put their feelings into words, especially during times of stress, anxiety, or change. Art psychotherapy offers a gentle and supportive way for young people to express themselves, using creativity as a form of communication when words are not enough.

My aim is to provide a safe, calm, and confidential space where your child can feel heard, understood, and supported. Through the creative process, children and adolescents are given the opportunity to explore their emotions, build resilience, and develop a stronger sense of self.

I work at each child's own pace, always with care, sensitivity, and respect for their individual needs.

Education and clinical experience

MSc Child Art Psychotherapy

Specialist postgraduate programme in child art psychotherapy, the dedicated clinical pathway for working therapeutically with children through art.

University College Dublin & the Mater Hospital

Advanced Clinical Training

Post-MSc advanced training in child art psychotherapy, deepening clinical skills in a hospital setting.

St Vincent's Hospital

CAMHS Experience

Practised child art psychotherapy within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, the highest clinical setting for children's mental health in Ireland.

Health Service Executive

Tusla Experience

Three years working as a child art psychotherapist with Tusla, supporting some of the most vulnerable children in Ireland.

Tusla, Child and Family Agency

ISPCC Childline Counsellor

Trained counsellor providing frontline crisis support to children and young people through the national helpline.

ISPCC Childline

BA (Hons) Humanities

Undergraduate degree providing a broad foundation in the humanities and human experience.

St Patrick's College, DCU

How I work with children and families

Following the child's lead

Every child I work with is different, and every session follows their lead. There's no pressure to talk, no expectation to create "good art," and no judgment. The art materials are simply tools, a way for the child to explore what's happening inside them at their own pace.

Supporting parents too

I work closely with parents. I know how hard it is to watch your child struggle and feel unsure about how to help. Part of my role is to support you through that process, keeping you informed and involved in a way that feels right for your family.

The triadic relationship

In art psychotherapy, the connection between the child, the art they create, and the therapist forms what is called the triadic relationship. It is this three-way relationship that provides the conditions for insight, emotional processing, and meaningful change.

A safe and confidential space

Everything that happens in the therapy room stays in the therapy room. Your child needs to know that this is their space, where they can express themselves freely without worry. I maintain professional boundaries while keeping parents appropriately informed about their child's progress.

Professional Memberships

ACAP

Association of Child
Art Psychotherapists

PSI

Psychological Society
of Ireland

BACP

British Association for
Counselling & Psychotherapy

Ready to talk?

If you think your child might benefit from art psychotherapy, or if you just want to find out more, I'd be happy to hear from you.

Get in Touch