dramatherapy and counselling in Bridport, Dorset
John Harley - dramatherapist serving Bridport, Dorchester and Weymouth, Dorset - member of BADth and registered with HCPC
creating pathways to wellbeing
I am a qualified dramatherapist based in Bridport, within easy reach of Dorchester and Weymouth. I have over thirty years of working creatively with children and young people and twenty years of developing safe spaces for adults to find wholeness. I passionately believe in the power and effectiveness of dramatherapy and the potential it has to unlock our self-esteem, self-knowledge and the richness of our imagination. I have worked in a variety of settings over the years including schools, NHS mental health and community centres. I have experience of leading group and individual dramatherapy and I have had the privilege of working with children, young people and adults.
‘You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than you can in a year of conversation’. Plato
I like to draw from a range of approaches in working with children and teens such as visualisation, art-making, clay-work, stories, drama games, cartooning, mask-making, den-making and puppet work. When working therapeutically with adults I offer a spectrum of creative tools including mindfulness, improvisation, script-writing, art and colour work. I strive to co-create a safe, welcoming space for the client to share and to express themselves freely. Of course some clients prefer simply to talk though dramatic and creative techniques are always available if this is requested.
Dramatherapy is an effective therapy supporting clients with many issues: children on the autism spectrum and hyperactivity, older people with dementia, mental illness and anxiety, addictions and relationship difficulties.
Background and Experience
I trained as a dramatherapist at Roehampton University from 2008-2011. During the course I gained experience of working with clients living with mental illness and led drama groups in schools and support groups in a community centre for the elderly. I developed mindfulness techniques and storytelling exercises with groups. Since then I have worked for the London based charity Carefree Kids doing one to one work with children in primary schools. I have been a teacher and youth leader for nearly thirty years and since the nineties I have organised and run creative residential and day retreats and workshops for adults.
I co-led a monthly support group called Away from Home for adults who have attended boarding school - this ran from 2019-22. I co-led a number of day workshops also.
Being an ex boarder myself, I have a special interest in working with boarding school survivors and I am open to one to one therapy for those who wish to explore memories and issues. I have attended workshops given by Nick Duffell and Joy Schaverien.
Setting and Location
The main venue for my dramatherapy practice is:
Chapel in the Garden
49 East Street
Bridport
DT6 3JX
The therapy room is large, characterful and comfortable and there are car parks nearby. I also work from a room at my home if this is more convenient for clients.
I am also willing to travel to other venues such as schools and community centres.
Bridport is well situated for clients who live in Dorset and is on bus routes to Weymouth and Dorchester.
Appointments and Fees
I have a number of therapy slots available during the week- including mornings and afternoons.
Session fees:
individual - one hour (50 minutes) - £60
group -one hour (50 minutes - £180
* I am able to offer some reduced fee appointments to those unable to meet the full cost.
Testimonials
Feedback from a parent - December 2020:
'I would highly recommend John to anyone who needs support. He worked with my 10 year old son and enabled him to grow in confidence and to start expressing his feelings in a safe, playful environment. Thank you John'
feedback from a recent adult client:
'I've reaped much from our meetings; elucidating my inner habits, making a focus shift, and transforming from the person I was being into who I am becoming.
Thank you for listening, your guidance, energy and contribution.'
From a mother of a young person:
'Drama therapy with John has done my daughter the world of good. This was visible in her demeanour in the therapy room and her actions outside the therapy room. She is notably more confident in herself.
During the session, my daughter opened up about her thoughts feelings and emotion in a deep and meaningful way. This level of self expression was not something I had seen happen so consistently before and I had never seen it even in previous therapy settings. There was something particular about the drama element that brought my daughter out of her non-communicative depressive state. Each new carer that joined a session was impressed by how different she was in the drama therapy room.'
