You don’t need to be “good at art” for art therapy and with deep experience in this, art therapist Cian O’Sullivan provides a warm, non-judgmental space for clients to explore this unique psychotherapy. It’s a personalised, client-led journey, offering benefits from stress reduction and self-discovery to working through complex problems.
Before becoming an art therapist, Cian followed a career as a professional artist, primarily as a painter, with awards and exhibitions, and also worked in graphics, photography, and animation. A pivotal shift came in 2000, working in DEIS Schools and with the COPE Foundation, and leading popular workshops for Cork ETB guiding adults who felt they were ‘not good at art’ to self-expression. These experiences deepened his experience in art’s power for healing, leading to his MA in Art Therapy from Crawford in 2018.
With decades of experience in art education and community arts, Cian has worked with diverse groups, including those with intellectual disabilities, Alzheimer’s, substance abuse recovery, returning adults, children in state care, gifted children, domestic abuse victims, and refugees. As an art therapist, he’s supported children in primary schools with ADHD, developmental disorders, ASD, bereavement, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, and PTSD . His approach is shaped by Edith Kramer, Carl Rogers, and is also guided by current evidence-based research, emphasising client-centred healing.
Cian has experience in working with the following:
Abuse (Past and Present)
ADHD (Child Therapy)
Adolescent Therapy
Adoption
Anger Management (Child)
Anxiety
Autism (Child Therapy)
Bereavement
Bullying
Child Therapy (5yrs +)
Critical Incident Stress Management
Cultural Issues
Depression
Divorce
Domestic Violence
Down’s Syndrome
End of Life
Exam Stress
Facilitating Creative Activities Between Child and Parent/Carer
Grief
Loss
Mindfulness
Rumination
Self Esteem
Stress Management
Suicide
Using certain types of Art-Making as Mindfulness
Visual Artists Who are Struggling Creatively
