Josephine Lay

Drama & movement therapist and clinical supervisor

Hello and welcome. My name is Josephine and I am a drama and movement therapist. I offer creative arts psychotherapy and supervision in Bristol and online.I have worked for over 14 years as a therapist with children, young people and families in charities and education. I now have a private practice and also work for a specialist CAMHS service for children in foster or kinship care.I'm committed to creating a comfortable, affirming space where all parts of you — including your cultural background, spiritual beliefs, and gender identity — are welcomed into the therapy process.People seek therapy for all sorts of reasons. Whatever brings you here, I welcome you to Get in touch.
Together, we can work towards finding the support you want.

About

A little more about me
Both personally and professionally, I’ve witnessed the transformative impact that imagination and movement can have in therapy. I believe that by integrating mind and body in the therapeutic process, we open the door to deeper self-awareness, resilience, and meaningful change. My approach is grounded in the belief that our whole selves—thoughts, feelings, sensations, and creativity—are essential resources for helping us to cope and thrive.

Therapy I Offer
Who do I see? I see children, young people and young adults. I also work alongside parents and carers to support their children.
How do I work? I welcome all parts of you into the therapy space and support you to set the goals and the pace. I help you to explore and share your strengths and struggles in ways that are meaningful to you - whether that's through talking, using imagination or listening to your body. My hope is that therapy helps you get what you want from it - that might be feeling more resourced and able to cope, feeling more connected in your relationships, or being kinder and more compassionate to yourself.
Areas of work I welcome anyone to contact me and bring an inclusive approach to therapy. I have particular experience supporting people who have experienced developmental trauma, including domestic abuse and child sexual abuse - but I also work with a wide range of other issues that may be connected with:
- low mood
- anxiety
- transitions and change
- loss and separation
- relationship difficulties
- using self-harm to cope
- stress and overwhelm
- early developmental trauma
- self-confidence and identity
Please feel free to Get in touchTherapy with Children
Sometimes life feels really confusing and scary and we have big feelings. Coming to therapy can help you with this. We don’t always have to talk—sometimes it’s easier to share things through play, art, or using your imagination.I have lots of fun and interesting things in my therapy room—like a sand tray, toy figures, fidget toys, squishy stuff, art materials, and colourful fabrics. You can choose what to do and it’s a space just for you.I’ll also stay in touch with your caregiver, so they can support you outside of our sessions too—because you’re not alone in this.
A Note for Parents and Caregivers
Before starting therapy with your child, I’ll meet with you for an initial consultation. This gives us a chance to talk about your concerns, your hopes for therapy, and to help me understand more about your child’s world and family life.
While therapy sessions with children are confidential to support their sense of safety and trust, I believe in working closely with caregivers wherever possible. By sharing general themes or insights (while protecting your child’s privacy), we can work together to make sure they feel supported in and out of therapy. After all, therapy is just 50 minutes a week—your presence and support outside of those sessions makes all the difference in helping the work take root and grow. You can Get in touch here.Therapy with Young People and Young Adults
You might be feeling all kinds of emotions and stresses in your life right now. Maybe you’re looking into therapy for yourself, or perhaps your parent or carer is encouraging you to try it—but you’re not quite sure yet. That’s completely okay.The choice to come to therapy has to be yours. We can start by meeting to see how it feels for you—whether this feels like the right time, and whether I feel like the right fit for you.In therapy, you can use the space in whatever way works best for you. You don’t have to be “creative” to find drama & movement therapy useful. Some young people are simply curious about how imagination and non-verbal expression can help them make sense of things, especially when talking feels too hard or too much.Young people I’ve worked with have said that having creative materials nearby—like art, objects, or movement—can take the pressure off needing to talk all the time. It can also help you step back from worries just enough to be able to think about them in more manageable ways.You might already be using creativity in ways you don’t even realise—like using a metaphor to describe your mood, connecting with a song lyric or a character in a TV show, or simply doodling. These are all valid and powerful ways of expressing yourself.If you’re interested or just curious, feel free to Get in touch. If you're under 18, please ask a parent or caregiver to support you with this.Clinical Supervision
I am a qualified embodied clinical supervisor (Relight training course). I bring years of experience of working with children, families and supervisees across a range of settings. My approach is creative, embodied and collaborative. Together, we can explore what you bring to supervision not only through talking, but through movement, sensation and symbol too. This can help to deepen reflection, resource you and support your practice. I offer 1:1 and group supervision to therapists and practitioners working in private practice and in organisations. Please feel free to Get in touch.A trauma-informed approach
Traumatic experiences can deeply affect our nervous system, and so sometimes the change doesn’t happen in therapy by talking directly about those events. Instead, we might focus together on helping you connect with your body and feelings in manageable ways without 'flooding' or overwhelming you. This process of stabilisation can help you build tools and resources to manage trauma responses and prepare you for trauma processing work when you feel ready.Professional Experience
Most recently I was Clinical Lead for The Green House, a charity supporting children, young people and families who have experienced child sexual abuse across Bristol and surrounding areas. I have co-managed a creative arts therapies service for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse. I have also worked for a range of charities including Barnardo's, Women's Aid, local domestic abuse services as well as in 'mainstream' and inclusive education settings.My Qualifications
I have a BSc degree in Applied Psychology. I later gained a Masters in drama & movement therapy with the Sesame Institute in London.
My other trainings include:
- Postgraduate certificate in child and family work (Tavistock, M7).
- Embodied Practitioner - Embodied Institute of Psychotherapy
- Creative Clinical Supervisor
- Bluestar training for Pre-trial therapy.
- CATT (Child Accelerated Trauma Technique) which is a NICE guidelines approved trauma-focused CBT trauma processing approach.
- DDP Level 1 (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy) for developmental trauma.Registrations:
Member of the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) - no. AS14147.
I hold an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check and renew this regularly.
My work is insured with Holistic Insurance Services.
I am registered with the ICO as part of my commitment to GDPR (data protection).

Contact me

I charge £60 per 50-minute session (for therapy and supervision).
I offer a free 15-minute consultation call so you can get a feel for how I work and whether it's the right fit for what you are looking for.
I am registered with the ICO and will ensure your information is protected in line with GDPR guidelines.

Please get in touch through email:
[email protected]