What is Attentive Art?

Attentive Art is a method of creative psychology. It is designed to make you feel better about life, about yourself. To understand yourself and peer into what is below the surface in a lighthearted way. Using a mixture of positive psychology, creative mindfulness and solution focused therapy, Attentive Art offers self study workshops, courses and creative meditations as well as individual sessions and creative business coaching packages.

How did Attentive Art Come About?

Attentive Art is my approach to life using a mixture of solution focused therapy, positive psychology and creative visualisation.

Having asked the question ‘What is wrong with me?’ all my life. I decided to find out for myself.

I started with a certificate in Psychology and Mental Health from Liverpool University followed by another one in Mindfulness from Monash University.I began making art again. I have always loved to paint and draw, to write and take photographs. My first exhibition after graduating with a design and business degree from Brighton University was at the old Aldwych tube station and was a great success. I continued to exhibit my work and develop my practice. Several years later though I’d had enough of the mental spirals and so began my quest. The link between art and mental health became apparent to me and I realised making art was something I had always used for my own personal therapy.

I found a course in Creative Mindfulness from the School of Modern Psychology. I trained with them for a few years in a deep dive into the creative psyche and it was utterly fascinating. I learned so much about myself as well as gaining certificates in Solution Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a qualification as a Creative Mindfulness Practitioner and a Diploma in Modern Psychology.

I qualified in December 2020. At the time I was running the creative sub section of the Psychologies Magazine Facebook Group. I was one of several ambassadors selected by the magazine to help with the group, I was also writing a blog on their platform which I later turned into a book. I put all my knowledge together with my creativity and Attentive Art was created.

But my quest wasn’t quite over.

I had learned many facts about the mind and the subconscious and had done a lot of internal searching and therapeutic work, but it still didn’t answer the question of ‘why me, why do I feel like this, why is it all so difficult?’ More detective work ensued, I spent a year running my own art gallery and looking for more answers. It turns out I am very neurodivergent, a path I originally went down to support my children. If you would like to know more about undiagnosed neurodivergence and creativity, please get in touch.

“Thank you for reminding me about the power of creativity in our lives. Yes, it is a lifesaver! It turned my life around.” - Karolina, Ireland

Choose from art kits, workshops or coaching to disassemble what isn’t working for you and redesign it in a way which feels amazing. Along the way you will learn about the real you that exists while developing your creative practice and unlocking those gifts which may have been hiding behind the day to day commitments and years of societal conditioning.

It is a lighthearted and enjoyable way to nurture yourself and grow.

"Sophie is absolutely wonderful to work with. Her energy is contagious and warm and receptive. I loved her engaging, creative approach to coaching which was definitely a plus for me."

- Shae, London

READ MY NEWSLETTER AT sophiehannahwalker.substack.com