A project run by Ella Bryant and Alex Burr
Who we
ARE
The Portable Wellbeing Studio is run by Alex Burr and Ella Bryant. Both qualified, HCPC registered art psychotherapists and full members of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT). We both completed Art Psychotherapy Masters at the University of South Wales. Our practice is rooted in psychodynamic thinking and attachment theory and we are skilled and specialist in human development and mental health. We have a humanistic, person-centred approach; being empathic, accepting, open and authentic is central to how we practise. We strive to make the people we work with feel understood and valued in a safe, nurturing and non-judgemental atmosphere. We have recently published a chapter on the The Portable Wellbeing Studio project in the book, “Art Psychotherapy and Innovation: New Territories, Techniques and Technologies”, published by Jessica Kingsley and edited by Helen Jury and Ali Coles. In 2023 we spoke at the World Art Therapy Conference about the project. We have also presented the project at Universities.
Ella is a dual experience art therapist, having been both a user and provider of mental health services. She has been working with adults and children as an Art Therapist for the last 10 years. She is passionate about taking art therapy out of clinical settings so it is less medicalised and more accessible. She worked for a number of years at Studio Upstairs, an artistic, therapeutic community in Bristol. For the last 7 years she has been working with young people in primary and secondary schools, from home, and in community settings.
She works a day a week for The Portable Wellbeing Studio - currently running a residency at Cabot Primary School in St Pauls, Bristol. As well as this, she works with adopted children for Chroma Therapies, an Ofsted-rated “Outstanding” provider of trauma-informed creative therapies. She also does private work with children from her practice rooms in Bradford-on-Avon and Bristol. She has a humanistic, person-centred approach to art therapy. If you would like to work privately with Ella please email her at ellamarybryant@gmail.com to arrange an initial meeting.
Ella Bryant
Alex is a HCPC registered Art Psychotherapist and EMDR practitioner working in Bristol and online. Alex began training and working in the field of mental health over 10 years ago and has provided therapeutic sessions for individuals and groups within the NHS, schools and third sector organisations. She is currently employed in the NHS working in CAMHS and offering private sessions 1:1, as well as working ad hoc in The Portable Wellbeing Studio. Alex is also an active group member of an Environmental Arts Therapy group.
Alex works with children, young people and adults and has experience working with a wide variety of complex and enduring mental health needs. She has worked with many symptoms associated with trauma and attachment difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, self-harm, anger, hyper vigilance and emotional dysregulation. Alex has is knowledgeable around working with neurodivergence (Autism, ADHD, dyslexia and other neurodevelopmental
conditions) and offers a SEND friendly approach. She is informed by a wide variety of training completed including in Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
In her therapy work she aims to offer a safe space for clients to reflect and explore their strengths and challenges in a nurturing, compassionate and creative environment. If you are interested in seeing Alex for private work (on a Monday afternoon currently in person in East Bristol or online) please contact alexburrtherapy@gmail.com to arrange a free initial 20 minute zoom call.
Alex Burr
