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We believe in the power of creativity to help children heal

 

Bristol Creative Therapy Centre provides professional, affordable creative therapy for children and young people across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and surrounding areas, including one-to-one Play Therapy and Dance Movement Psychotherapy, as well as therapeutic groups.

 

Children don't always have the words to explain what they're feeling or what has happened to them. But through play, movement, art and creativity, they can explore difficult feelings and experiences safely and at their own pace.

 

That's the power of creative therapy. It gives children another way to communicate, supported by a qualified therapist who can meet them where they are.

 

We believe every child who needs that support should have the chance to access it. But for too many families, getting the right help isn't easy. Private therapy can be unaffordable, while statutory services can mean long waits or high thresholds for support.

 

We don't believe a family's income should determine whether their child gets the help they need. That's why we work to keep our therapy affordable, giving more children the space and support they need to heal, grow and thrive.

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How we began

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Bristol Creative Therapy Centre began in 2022, when the organisation we worked for closed. 

 

We had already seen first-hand the difference creative therapy could make. The funding had stopped, but the children still needed help, so we decided to keep going.

 

We met in a church hall and began working through everything we needed to create a new therapy centre. A friend walked 100 miles to raise enough money to cover our first three months’ rent and, within months, Bristol Creative Therapy Centre was seeing children.

 

Since then, we’ve grown to support around 90 children each year from our two therapy rooms at the Vassall Centre – helping more children and families access professional creative therapy when they need it.

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What we believe

Our mission

To make professional creative therapy accessible and affordable, particularly for children and families who might otherwise go without the support they need.

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Our vision

A future where every child who needs therapeutic support has the chance to access it – and to heal, grow and thrive.

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Our values

• Child-centred: Every child is different. We meet them where they are and give them the space and time to work at their own pace.

• Creative: We believe in the power of play and creativity to help children communicate, explore and heal.

• Accessible: A family's income shouldn't determine whether their child can get help.

• Professional: Our work is delivered by qualified creative therapists, with children's safety, wellbeing and trust at its heart.

• Compassionate: We support children and families with warmth, respect and without judgement.