Portrait of Jon Martyn

Jon Martyn

State Registered Art Psychotherapist and EMDR therapist

I work with adults who may be struggling with the impact of traumatic experiences, emotional distress, relationship difficulties, or a sense of being stuck or overwhelmed.

I run sessions online and in person. My practice is based at the Sheffield Therapy Collective, 38 Bank Street S1 2DS.

Email me for a free initial conversation

Who I work with

You may be looking for a greater understanding of yourself, support through a difficult period, or a way to move forward from experiences that continue to affect you.

I have in-depth experience of working with people facing many kinds of difficulty, including complex trauma, anxiety, loss, self-injury, suicidal thoughts, relationship problems, repeating patterns of behaviour that worry you, and feeling cut off from your creativity.

As a member of the Sheffield Therapy Collective, I offer trans-friendly, neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-sensitive therapy, adapted to your individual needs.

Therapy: How I work

We create the space together. We might talk, make art, or both. I work with care and sensitivity, keeping you in control of the process and working at a pace that feels right for you. There are art materials available for use. Experimentation, play and mess are encouraged.

Therapy is a relationship, and the trust we build between us is part of the work. We'll start by exploring what you need, and agree on a path forward. Sessions can be weekly or fortnightly, depending on what suits you best, though I recommend weekly sessions to begin with. The length of therapy depends on your needs, and this can be discussed at the beginning of therapy, whether you seek a time-limited, focused piece of work or require ongoing long-term therapy. I recommend a minimum of three months of therapy.

I offer two approaches: art psychotherapy and EMDR. We can use either one on its own or bring them together, depending on what you need.

A corner of the therapy room: a wooden table with a sheet of black paper, shelves of paper, pens and pastels, and a row of paint bottles along the windowsill
Art materials in the therapy room

Art psychotherapy

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art-making alongside talking. Making an image can give shape to experiences and feelings when words feel difficult or aren't enough, and we then think together about what has emerged. It isn't about making good art, and no artistic skill is needed.

My approach is informed by attachment theory, trauma neurobiology and psychotherapy, and we will look at how relationships, particularly our earliest, shape the way we manage emotions and relate to ourselves and other people, and how distress is held in our bodies, and acted out in ways we may be unaware of. Above all, therapy works with the belief that a steady, trusting relationship is the ground for change.

Trauma therapy and EMDR

Trauma work happens in stages, at your pace. We begin by exploring your experiences while practising grounding and emotional regulation. When you are ready, we work through what happened using art making, EMDR, or both. As a NICE-recommended trauma treatment, EMDR is focused on reducing flashbacks, nightmares, a sense of threat and hypervigilance. The final stage of trauma therapy is to look at how to build relationships and the life you want.

Where I work

The therapy room: a sofa with a striped throw and cushions, a wingback armchair beside a tiled fireplace, shelves of art materials and a patterned rug

I see clients at the Sheffield Therapy Collective, 38 Bank Street, Sheffield S1 2DS, in the city centre. The room has step-free access

The Collective is a community of qualified therapists who share a commitment to mental health equality, anti-oppressive practice and making therapy more accessible for people across Sheffield.

About the Collective

Fees and practicalities

Initial conversation
Free
Session fee
£60 per 50-minute session
Concessions
£50 per 50-minute session. I have a limited number of concessionary spaces. If you would like to be considered for one, please let me know when you get in touch
How often
Weekly or fortnightly
Format
In person in Sheffield, or online by secure video
Who
Adults aged 18 and over
Supervision
I also offer clinical supervision, in person and online. About supervision

Training and experience

I'm an HCPC-registered art psychotherapist, which means my work meets nationally regulated standards for training, ethics and safe practice. I hold an MA in Art Psychotherapy and have been registered since 2008.

I have over 18 years' experience as a therapist. Throughout my career I have worked with people living with PTSD, complex trauma and a diagnosis of personality disorder, and I have been in private practice for 15 years.

I'm trained to Level 4 in EMDR (2022) and am a member of EMDR UK. To keep developing what I can offer people living with the effects of long-term or repeated trauma, I'm currently in the first year of a two-year specialist training, Complex Trauma: the Tavistock Model (2026–28).

Alongside my private practice, I have worked as Clinical Lead at Share Psychotherapy, lectured on the MA Art Psychotherapy programme at Goldsmiths, University of London, and co-founded the New Art Studio, a therapeutic art studio for refugees.

Full career history

Get in touch

You don't need to have everything worked out before beginning therapy. If you're wondering whether therapy might be helpful, you're welcome to get in touch for a free initial conversation. We can talk about what you're looking for and whether I might be the right fit for you.

Email contact@jonmartyn.co.uk