About
Artling was set-up by Katya Sommer in 2008 to respond to a lack of art therapy services available in England,
and raise awareness about the value and benefits of Art Therapy.
Katya’s experience includes; working systemically with children, adolescents and their families in CAMHS in the NHS, adoption services, pupil referral units, mainstream secondary & primary schools, with children in care, those that are experiencing eating disorders, within drug and alcohol rehabilitation services for adults and children both in the NHS and privately, elderly mental health services, learning/physical disabilities and with asylum seekers and refugees.
Experienced supervisors registered with The Health Care Profession Council (HCPC), the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) or EMDR UK supervise Katya’s work.
Katya Sommer, Founder
Katya qualified as an Art Therapist in 2008 from Goldsmiths University, London. Having moved to Sheffield in 2012 she took on the role of honorary Regional Co-ordinator for The British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) with Alexa Molyneux. .
Katya currently works within Sheffield Community CAMHS as a Specialist Art Psychotherapist four days a week. Her specialism is in offering a blended approach of Art Psychotherapy alongside Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TCBT) or Child Accelerated Trauma Treatment (CATT).
Outside of this she offers a more elective day of private work working either
at her studio at KIAC (KIAC – Kelham Island Arts Collective – Home)
or for Montrose Health Group (Montrose Health Group | Tailored 1-1 Private Healthcare)
Prior to this she worked as an Art Therapist within Doncaster CAMHS and at Bradford District Pupil Referral Unit where she worked with 13-16 year olds excluded from mainstream education. Alongside this work, she offered sessional work in schools, is an associate for the charity Art Therapy Yorkshire (Art Therapy Yorkshire | a space for creative healing) who are on the Approved providers List.
Her previous experience includes:
Running an art therapy group for Syrian refugees in Scarborough
Short-term sessional work for adopted families via the Adoption Service Fund
Short-term sessional work within the primary school setting
Assistant Transition Project Manager at The Bridge Academy under The Place2be, London where her work supported the improvement of emotional well-being for children up to the age of 13. As well as providing clinical work, Katya was trained to oversee and manage the service, which involved supervising six volunteer counsellors.
Resident Art Therapist at a La Sainte Union Catholic School, Highgate in London, delivering art therapy sessions for pupils from Years 7 to 11.
Art Therapist at Wishmore Cross Academy, Woking where students have been excluded from mainstream education.
Prior to becoming an Art Therapist, Katya trained in an NHS setting, in elderly long-term psychiatry and drug and alcohol rehabilitation, running group sessions for adults.