Hello!
I’m Amy Pataki, a qualified and HCPC registered art psychotherapist based in Yorkshire.
I offer art psychotherapy, psychoeducation, and well-being sessions for children, adults, families, and groups in York, Leeds, and Bradford. Sessions can be in-person or online.
How I Work
When you work with me, you’ll find a supportive, creative, and collaborative space to explore whatever feels important—your feelings, hopes, challenges, or simply what’s on your mind.
I combine creativity, conversation, and connection to help you discover more of yourself, make sense of difficult experiences, and find new ways to move forward.
My approach is:
Attachment-focused & trauma-informed – I pay attention to how early relationships and past experiences shape life today.
Gentle and paced – We work in a way that feels safe for your body and nervous system in the here and now.
Compassionate and curious – Together we look beneath behaviours or emotions, not to judge them, but to understand them.
What This Means for You
Through a safe and attuned relationship, therapy can offer new experiences of trust, regulation, and connection—both with others and with yourself.
I am also committed to an inclusive, anti-oppressive practice, recognising that distress is often connected not just to personal history but also to wider systems such as racism, ableism, or inequality. For me, therapy is not only healing—it can also be an act of reclaiming power and dignity.
Why I Do This Work
Art has always been at the centre of my life. Growing up in an army family, I moved every two years—new homes, schools, and cultures. Creativity became my way to feel safe, express myself, and process change when words weren’t enough.
Before becoming a therapist, I studied animation and worked in the film industry as a prop maker and scenic artist on productions such as Isle of Dogs, The Clangers, and Teletubbies. Alongside that work, I volunteered in psychiatric wards running art groups, and that’s where I discovered the deep healing potential of art therapy.
I went on to complete my MA in Art Psychotherapy Practice at Sheffield in 2021 and have since worked across schools, women’s centres, refuges, and therapy studios with children, adults, and families.
A Final Note
I know reaching out for therapy can feel daunting. My hope is to offer you a space where you feel welcomed, understood, and supported to grow in ways that feel right for you.