Ten Years of Social Art Therapy: A Reflection
A reflective evening and morning... Today marks ten years since Social Art Therapy Ltd (SA&T) was formally registered as a company, right here in Woolwich, South East London. She existed before that, in different forms and names — first as Simmons Art Therapy, and then as Social Art & Therapy, but it was a decade ago today that the formal step was taken. When registering the domain name, the “&” had to go — and so, Social Art Therapy became what it is today.
So — what have we done in this decade?
What’s coming next?
As always, the future is unknown. But what we do know is this:
Today, bookings open for the next round of EMDR & Art Therapy courses, and we’re excited to share something new: our dedicated course and resource site EMDRArtTherapy.org currently being developed by Zitian Harper.
Therapy, Supervision & Collective Work
Alongside training, SA&T has quietly continued its therapeutic and supervisory work. Over the past decade, Lee has delivered several thousand therapy sessions through SA&T, and clinical supervision as an EMDR Consultant, supporting therapists across:
A reflective evening and morning... Today marks ten years since Social Art Therapy Ltd (SA&T) was formally registered as a company, right here in Woolwich, South East London. She existed before that, in different forms and names — first as Simmons Art Therapy, and then as Social Art & Therapy, but it was a decade ago today that the formal step was taken. When registering the domain name, the “&” had to go — and so, Social Art Therapy became what it is today.
So — what have we done in this decade?
What’s coming next?
As always, the future is unknown. But what we do know is this:
Today, bookings open for the next round of EMDR & Art Therapy courses, and we’re excited to share something new: our dedicated course and resource site EMDRArtTherapy.org currently being developed by Zitian Harper.
Therapy, Supervision & Collective Work
Alongside training, SA&T has quietly continued its therapeutic and supervisory work. Over the past decade, Lee has delivered several thousand therapy sessions through SA&T, and clinical supervision as an EMDR Consultant, supporting therapists across:
- Freedom from Torture
- CARAS
- NHS teams & social services
- The Priory
- …and more
- Doctors of the World
- Goldsmiths University
- King’s College London & Imperial College London
- Second Floor Studios and Arts
- …and other valued institutions and services
The Story of the EMDR & Art Therapy Course
The EMDR & Art Therapy course, has absorbed earlier courses in Vicarious Trauma and Resilience to one of the modules. It has maintained a gentle forward motion since the inaugural EMDR & Art Therapy course was designed and delivered by Lee Anna Simmons at SA&T, for the EMDR Association West Midlands Regional Group in 2018. Since then, the course has developed and adapted. Between 2019 and 2022, it was delivered through the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT), both in-person and online, with each cohort fully booked at 25 participants.
In 2022, the course evolved into a more spacious and in-depth format delivered online via SA&T. This version was limited to 10 participants, spaced over three shorter live sessions plus a follow-up consultation, co-facilitated by EMDR and Art Therapists and designed to support deeper, reflective learning.
This version was also offered in collaboration with EMDR UK, BaDTh (British Association of Dramatherapists), and welcomed just over 100 participants with The EMDR UK Association. The course has been shaped and enriched by contributions from a number of generous and skilled colleagues, including: Vickie Le Sache, Kathy Ross, Sophia Hafslund and Chloé Smith.
Earlier this year the course was shared with therapists in Kosovo and Albania via EMDR Albania, with support from Ina Havaraj, trainee psychologist, mountain leader, and active member of the Guides Association of Albania.
The EMDR & Art Therapy course, has absorbed earlier courses in Vicarious Trauma and Resilience to one of the modules. It has maintained a gentle forward motion since the inaugural EMDR & Art Therapy course was designed and delivered by Lee Anna Simmons at SA&T, for the EMDR Association West Midlands Regional Group in 2018. Since then, the course has developed and adapted. Between 2019 and 2022, it was delivered through the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT), both in-person and online, with each cohort fully booked at 25 participants.
In 2022, the course evolved into a more spacious and in-depth format delivered online via SA&T. This version was limited to 10 participants, spaced over three shorter live sessions plus a follow-up consultation, co-facilitated by EMDR and Art Therapists and designed to support deeper, reflective learning.
This version was also offered in collaboration with EMDR UK, BaDTh (British Association of Dramatherapists), and welcomed just over 100 participants with The EMDR UK Association. The course has been shaped and enriched by contributions from a number of generous and skilled colleagues, including: Vickie Le Sache, Kathy Ross, Sophia Hafslund and Chloé Smith.
Earlier this year the course was shared with therapists in Kosovo and Albania via EMDR Albania, with support from Ina Havaraj, trainee psychologist, mountain leader, and active member of the Guides Association of Albania.
A birthday present for SA&T:
Above drawing L.A.Simmons (2025)
The below question was asked to chat GPT on 15th June 2025
'Did 'Social Art Therapy' ever exist as a distinct movement or practice, outside of Social Art Therapy Ltd?’
'Although the term 'social art therapy' appeared briefly in late 1990s academic literature—most notably through the work of Judith Waldman and Susan Hogan—it was used conceptually, not as a formalised model or movement. There was no established training route, organisation, or widely practised methodology under that name. In that sense, Social Art Therapy Ltd was never intended to 'be' this theoretical construct. Yet over time, through its commitment to social justice, relational practice, and creativity rooted in lived experience, SA&T has organically become one of the few places where the principles of social art therapy have been actively realised. What was once an idea has found quiet, grounded expression in clinical work, supervision, and teaching across borders, systems, and communities.'
The below question was asked to chat GPT on 15th June 2025
'Did 'Social Art Therapy' ever exist as a distinct movement or practice, outside of Social Art Therapy Ltd?’
'Although the term 'social art therapy' appeared briefly in late 1990s academic literature—most notably through the work of Judith Waldman and Susan Hogan—it was used conceptually, not as a formalised model or movement. There was no established training route, organisation, or widely practised methodology under that name. In that sense, Social Art Therapy Ltd was never intended to 'be' this theoretical construct. Yet over time, through its commitment to social justice, relational practice, and creativity rooted in lived experience, SA&T has organically become one of the few places where the principles of social art therapy have been actively realised. What was once an idea has found quiet, grounded expression in clinical work, supervision, and teaching across borders, systems, and communities.'
The last year sessions at the long term studio in SE London, UK, drew to a close and SA&T hit the road with the project Van On Hill, looking for a new base where the strand of climbing therapy could further develop. Having the studio next to The Reach climbing was wonderful for the natural evolution of bringing climbing to trauma therapy work, but now it needs to be outside in nature.
The next base hasn't yet been decided and this week therapy intensives have been held in central Woolwich. However, the long standing clinic location alongside the Thames River (thames-sidestudios.co.uk), will host the next training in EMDR and Art Therapy and also a new course, sharing techniques from Climbing therapy sessions!
Though there is a sense of flow in this work, it isn't always easy. Social Art Therapy Ltd exists purely on the income generated from product sales and services, we have never received public funding or private donations; whilst collaborative, we haven't used volunteers and pay all of our freelancers. Admittedly thoughts of closing occasionally arise (particularly when it's time to pay our tax!), but the tide usually picks up and new projects seem to want to exist, so here we are.
With thanks to the clients, colleagues, supervisors, students and participants; to the organisations, technical support, and to Toby Tiger, who is always part of the team in one way or another.
Here's to the next decade!
💛
The next base hasn't yet been decided and this week therapy intensives have been held in central Woolwich. However, the long standing clinic location alongside the Thames River (thames-sidestudios.co.uk), will host the next training in EMDR and Art Therapy and also a new course, sharing techniques from Climbing therapy sessions!
Though there is a sense of flow in this work, it isn't always easy. Social Art Therapy Ltd exists purely on the income generated from product sales and services, we have never received public funding or private donations; whilst collaborative, we haven't used volunteers and pay all of our freelancers. Admittedly thoughts of closing occasionally arise (particularly when it's time to pay our tax!), but the tide usually picks up and new projects seem to want to exist, so here we are.
With thanks to the clients, colleagues, supervisors, students and participants; to the organisations, technical support, and to Toby Tiger, who is always part of the team in one way or another.
Here's to the next decade!
💛
