Lucy Shearman
Lucy Sherman
EMDR Therapist Art and Psychotherapist
Pronouns: She/Her
I think it is important to treat people and this process with respect, compassion and kindness. Allowing you to take responsibility for your own creative decisions and content means that as opposed to leading you down a path, I am rather stood beside you, keeping you safe and supporting you in your journey.
I have over 10 years of experience working as a Psychotherapist. I have worked with individuals with a wide range of mental health struggles and neurodiverse needs,including trauma (PTSD & CPTSD), depression, anxiety, psychosis, Autism, ADHD, disordered attachment, personality differences, low confidence and more. Specialist fields I have worked in include those who have been in foster care, looked after children, acute psychiatric mental health issues, eating disorder, hospice/ bereavement, addiction and recovery programmes.
I offer Psychodynamic talking therapy and or Art therapy as well as being a specialist in EMDR. I often combine these modalities to best suit the individual I am working with.
Art Psychotherapy uses art media as its primary mode of expression; recognising how difficult it can be to translate our thoughts and feelings into words, as well as the stigma and challenges around language and mental health. Art is great at breaking through these barriers and allow us to reflect and express ourselves in a rich and authentic way. No artistic abilities are needed.
I follow a psychodynamic framework which focuses on looking at past experiences and relationships and the influence they have on current circumstances and relationships in your day to day life. I use this framework in both talking and art therapy. Having both vessels of therapy means I can adapt to provide a rich experience for my clients.
EMDR (eye movement desensitisation reprocessing therapy)- this is a therapy specifically designed for treatment of trauma (including CPTSD), using eye movement techniques as well as simultaneously recalling trauma. Individuals often find themselves freed of triggers, nightmares, fears, grieving and seemingly out-of-control symptoms that they have suffered with for years. The work will also focus on leaving you with a more positive core belief, helping develop positive self esteem.
Conditions & Difficulties Treated
Specialist Areas
Trauma (PTSD and CPTSD), Anxiety, Neurodiversity, Chronic illness, Relational issues
Commonly Treated Difficulties
AD
Therapeutic Approaches & Models
Integrative Therapy
Person-centred therapy
Lucy works with:
C
Health Insurance Companies registered with:
Professional Training & Accreditations
Art Psychotherapy, MA with merit, Goldsmiths University (2018)
EMDR Europe Accredited training, EMDR Academy (2022)
Clinical Supervision Training, BAAT (2020)
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidenced based & well researched talking therapy. It is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for many mental health problems.
It is most commonly used to treat anxiety and depression, but can be useful for many other mental and physical health problems.
CBT focuses upon how your thoughts and behaviours impact upon your emotions and physical symptoms.
CBT is collaborative treatment and typically involves doing homework tasks between appointments.
It aims to teach you to become your own therapist, teaching you tools so you can keep using the strategies and techniques you have learned after you have finished therapy.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a modern, evidence-based form of therapy that helps people change their relationship with difficult thoughts, feelings, and experiences, rather than trying to eliminate them. ACT recognises that distress is a natural part of being human, and focuses on building psychological flexibility — the ability to respond to challenges in ways that support wellbeing and personal values.
In ACT, you learn skills to notice thoughts and emotions without becoming overwhelmed or stuck in them. This includes developing acceptance, mindfulness, and compassion, alongside identifying what truly matters to you. Therapy then supports you to take meaningful, values-led actions, even when life feels difficult.
ACT can be particularly helpful for anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic health conditions, stress, and difficulties with self-esteem. It is often used alongside other therapeutic approaches, such as CBT, and is tailored to each individual’s needs and goals.
Rather than aiming to “get rid” of uncomfortable feelings, ACT helps you create a richer, more meaningful life by learning to make space for your internal experiences while moving toward what matters most to you.
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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people understand and manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and cope more effectively during times of distress. It was originally developed to support people who experience strong emotional reactions, but is now widely used for a range of mental health difficulties.
DBT focuses on building practical skills across four key areas: emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills help individuals respond to challenging situations with greater balance, self-awareness, and confidence.
A core principle of DBT is the balance between acceptance and change. Therapy validates how difficult experiences feel, while also supporting you to develop healthier ways of coping and relating to yourself and others.
DBT can be particularly helpful for difficulties such as emotional disregulation, self-harm, relationship difficulties, trauma, and certain personality-related challenges. Therapy is collaborative, structured, and compassionate, helping people feel supported while working towards meaningful and lasting change.
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Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people manage self-criticism, shame, and emotional overwhelm, while developing greater self-compassion and emotional resilience. It was originally developed to support individuals who struggle with high levels of self-criticism or shame, but is now widely used for a range of mental health difficulties.
CFT focuses on developing compassionate mind skills, including self-soothing, mindfulness, and understanding the balance between threat, drive, and soothing systems in the brain. These skills help individuals respond to difficult thoughts and emotions with greater kindness, clarity, and balance.
A core principle of CFT is cultivating compassion towards oneself and others. Therapy helps you recognise and reduce harsh self-judgment, while building confidence, emotional regulation, and supportive ways of coping.
CFT can be particularly helpful for difficulties such as anxiety, depression, trauma, perfectionism, low self-esteem, and difficulties managing self-criticism or shame. Therapy is collaborative, structured, and compassionate, supporting individuals to build lasting emotional strength and self-kindness.
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Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a highly effective form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), most commonly used to treat OCD and anxiety-related difficulties.
It involves gradually facing the thoughts, situations, or triggers that cause anxiety (exposure), while learning to resist the usual habits or behaviours used to reduce that anxiety (response prevention), such as avoidance, reassurance-seeking, or compulsions.
Over time, this helps your brain learn that the feared outcome is less likely than it feels, and that anxiety can reduce naturally without needing to rely on unhelpful coping strategies. ERP is always done at a pace that feels manageable, with support from your therapist throughout.
