I find it is a privilege to contribute to the full achievement of human potential, beyond developmental issues, maladaptive behavioural patterns and psychological, cognitive, emotional or somatic distress. My experience so far has allowed me to work relationally, systémically and cross-cultural with diverse individuals, families and groups, across generations and presentations. After a 10 year-long career in Communications and Theatre, and after finishing my Master’s degree in Communication and Arts, I looked for training and professional opportunities to work creatively with children and youth, alongside my own creative growth and resourcing, to support others on their journey towards sustained wellbeing and fulfilment. Training as Psychodrama Group and Individual Psychotherapist helped me appreciate the impact of child development on the life struggles adults face, which led me to work mainly with adult clients, both face-to-face (as Civil Servant in the prison system, in the NHS, and also in private addiction rehabilitation) and online (as employed and Independent Practitioner). My experience so far has allowed me to work relationally, systematically and cross-culturally with diverse individuals, families and groups, across generations and presentations. After a 10 year-long career in Communications and Theatre, and after finishing my Master’s degree in Communication and Arts, I looked for training and professional opportunities to work creatively with children and youth, alongside my own creative growth and resourcing, to support others on their journey towards sustained wellbeing and fulfilment. Training as Psychodrama Group and Individual Psychotherapist helped me appreciate the impact of child development on the life struggles adults face, which led me to work mainly with adult clients, both face-to-face (as Civil Servant in the prison system, in the NHS, and also in private addiction rehabilitation) and online (as employed and Independent Practitioner).

Claudia Vau

I find it is a privilege to contribute to the full achievement of human potential, beyond developmental issues, maladaptive behavioural patterns and psychological, cognitive, emotional or somatic distress. My experience so far has allowed me to work relationally, systémically and cross-cultural with diverse individuals, families and groups, across generations and presentations. After a 10 year-long career in Communications and Theatre, and after finishing my Master’s degree in Communication and Arts, I looked for training and professional opportunities to work creatively with children and youth, alongside my own creative growth and resourcing, to support others on their journey towards sustained wellbeing and fulfilment. Training as Psychodrama Group and Individual Psychotherapist helped me appreciate the impact of child development on the life struggles adults face, which led me to work mainly with adult clients, both face-to-face (as Civil Servant in the prison system, in the NHS, and also in private addiction rehabilitation) and online (as employed and Independent Practitioner). My experience so far has allowed me to work relationally, systematically and cross-culturally with diverse individuals, families and groups, across generations and presentations. After a 10 year-long career in Communications and Theatre, and after finishing my Master’s degree in Communication and Arts, I looked for training and professional opportunities to work creatively with children and youth, alongside my own creative growth and resourcing, to support others on their journey towards sustained wellbeing and fulfilment. Training as Psychodrama Group and Individual Psychotherapist helped me appreciate the impact of child development on the life struggles adults face, which led me to work mainly with adult clients, both face-to-face (as Civil Servant in the prison system, in the NHS, and also in private addiction rehabilitation) and online (as employed and Independent Practitioner).

Available to hire

I find it is a privilege to contribute to the full achievement of human potential, beyond developmental issues, maladaptive behavioural patterns and psychological, cognitive, emotional or somatic distress. My experience so far has allowed me to work relationally, systémically and cross-cultural with diverse individuals, families and groups, across generations and presentations. After a 10 year-long career in Communications and Theatre, and after finishing my Master’s degree in Communication and Arts, I looked for training and professional opportunities to work creatively with children and youth, alongside my own creative growth and resourcing, to support others on their journey towards sustained wellbeing and fulfilment. Training as Psychodrama Group and Individual Psychotherapist helped me appreciate the impact of child development on the life struggles adults face, which led me to work mainly with adult clients, both face-to-face (as Civil Servant in the prison system, in the NHS, and also in private addiction rehabilitation) and online (as employed and Independent Practitioner).

My experience so far has allowed me to work relationally, systematically and cross-culturally with diverse individuals, families and groups, across generations and presentations. After a 10 year-long career in Communications and Theatre, and after finishing my Master’s degree in Communication and Arts, I looked for training and professional opportunities to work creatively with children and youth, alongside my own creative growth and resourcing, to support others on their journey towards sustained wellbeing and fulfilment. Training as Psychodrama Group and Individual Psychotherapist helped me appreciate the impact of child development on the life struggles adults face, which led me to work mainly with adult clients, both face-to-face (as Civil Servant in the prison system, in the NHS, and also in private addiction rehabilitation) and online (as employed and Independent Practitioner).

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Experience Level

Expert
Intermediate

Language

English
Fluent
Portuguese
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Advanced

Work Experience

Freelance Psychodramatist and Integrative Psychotherapist at Private Practice
May 1, 2014 - Present
Freelance psychotherapist offering part-time group and individual psychotherapy and life coaching services; professionally insured and clinically supervised practice.
Senior Therapist, Psychodramatist at PROMIS Hay Farm Clinic
May 1, 2023 - December 31, 2024
Adults with Addiction and Co-morbidities; delivering one-to-one sessions, group, couple’s and family sessions with applied action methods; running online Aftercare sessions and Family Support group; liaison with external healthcare providers; risk planning and care planning; staff supervision.
Freelance Integrative Psychotherapist at Powerhouse for Women
January 1, 2019 - July 31, 2024
Monthly group psychotherapy using Playback Theatre, Psychodrama, and Sociodrama; funded project aiming to enhance self-confidence, communication, relationships and life skills; COVID-19 adaptations; group facilitation.
Creative Group Psychotherapist at NHS Ash Eton Therapeutic Community
September 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023
Intervening within MDT; co-facilitating large, small and core-creative therapy groups; MBT staff training; maintaining electronic patient records; risk and care planning.
Freelance Community Arts Tutor and Therapeutic Group Facilitator at CAP UK (HMPPS) – Therapeutic Community Arts
May 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022
Running community arts groups; collaborating on early-stage research on arts' impact on mental health and wellbeing.
Honorary Integrative Group Psychotherapist at HMPPS – Democratic Therapeutic Community
December 1, 2015 - May 31, 2022
Weekly group psychotherapy for adult women in custody; clinical notes, reports and MDT participation; supervision.
Group Facilitator at HMPPS – Democratic Therapeutic Community
November 1, 2018 - May 31, 2022
Civil Servant contracted as Group Facilitator; running weekly groups with infection control adaptations; relational practice and creative action; Living Learning and Therapeutic Horticulture sessions.
Honorary Integrative Psychotherapist at Bereavement Service – Camden, Islington and Westminster
November 1, 2016 - December 31, 2018
Bereavement counselling using psychodrama and other modalities; clinically supervised.
Integrative Psychotherapist at The Recover Clinic (Eating Disorders Counselling)
July 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016
Therapeutic group facilitation with Playback Theatre, Psychodrama, Sociodrama; holistic program integration.
Honorary Integrative Psychotherapist at Kids Company (Counselling Service in Schools)
March 1, 2014 - June 1, 2015
1:1 with parents/carers and school staff; supervised practice.
Trainee Psychodrama Psychotherapist at NHS Milton Keynes Community Mental Health Services
September 1, 2013 - February 28, 2014
100-hour mental health placement; observe and participate in psychotherapy group; placement report.
Assistant Drama Trainer at Royal Holloway University of London
January 1, 2013 - January 31, 2013
Introductory Playback Theatre Workshop for drama students; warm-ups, directed practice, performance, Q&A.
Trainer / Program Developer at School of Playback Theatre (London)
September 1, 2011 - July 31, 2012
Finalisation and promotion of training programme; assess trainees; deliver and evaluate courses; Q&A for international practitioners; marketing and Grudtvig programme development.
Drama Trainer / Facilitator at Westminster Kingsway College
November 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
Warm-up, scene direction, 1:1 work with AS student; group facilitation; Teen-AGE project for youth; end-of-term presentations.

Education

Graduate Certificate in Systemic Approaches to Working with Individuals, Families and Organisations at Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust – London, UK
October 1, 2024 - March 7, 2026
Care Certificate (including associated courses) at Careskills Academy
August 1, 2024 - August 1, 2024
NHS Professionals Online Training at Onestop Healthcare Training
August 1, 2022 - August 1, 2022
OPD Diversity Network and Training Day at NHS England and NHS Improvement
June 10, 2021 - June 10, 2021
DBT Essentials at APT
June 1, 2021 - June 1, 2021
Master’s in Communication and Arts at Faculty of Social & Human Sciences of the New University of Lisbon (NOVA) – Lisbon, Portugal
October 1, 2006 - February 1, 2010
Degree in Communication Sciences - PR at Instituto Superior da Maia - Oporto, Portugal
October 1, 2000 - September 1, 2004
Secondary Education in Arts and Letters at Escola Secundária de Caminha
September 1, 1987 - December 1, 1994
High School Degree in Letters at Ancorensis Cooperativa de Ensino - V. P. Âncora, Portugal
July 1, 1994 - July 1, 1995
Certificate Course in Adult Training at Business Academy - Lisbon, Portugal
November 1, 2005 - November 1, 2005
Postgraduate Diploma (accredited by BPA) in Psychodrama at British Psychodrama Association (BPA)
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2020
Advanced Diploma in Psychodrama Group and Individual Psychotherapy at London Centre for Psychodrama – London, UK
October 1, 2011 - December 31, 2020

Qualifications

Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) Training
April 6, 2020 - March 7, 2026
First Aid Certificate
October 1, 2013 - March 7, 2026
Personal Coaching Certificate
September 1, 2013 - March 7, 2026
Level 2 Child Protection Training
February 1, 2014 - March 7, 2026
CPD Courses on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
January 1, 2015 - February 1, 2015
Care Certificate (including associated courses)
August 1, 2024 - August 1, 2024

Industry Experience

Education, Healthcare, Media & Entertainment, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services