Judy HarrisonHCPC-registered dramatherapist
Dramatherapy · Counselling · EMDR in Aylesbury & online
A safe, creative space to find your way forward
You’re in the right place. I offer a warm, creative and confidential space to explore what’s on your mind, at your own pace.
- Start with a 30-minute, £25 get-to-know-you consultation, no commitment
- Working with people since 2001 · MA Dramatherapy
- In person in Aylesbury, or online anywhere in the UK
Registered and accountable
The first step
Let’s check we are a good fit
Seeking help can be a difficult decision, and choosing to reach out is a courageous one. This first conversation is a chance for us to get to know each other, talk about what’s brought you here, and decide together whether we are the right fit, before you commit to anything.
Book your consultation online (opens in a new tab)Book a time that suits you
Choose a slot online in a couple of minutes, or email Judy if you would rather ask a question first.
Talk it through
We talk about your reasons for seeking support, your hopes, and any questions about how therapy works.
Decide, with no pressure
If it feels right, we agree the approach that suits you. If not, that’s completely fine too.
Ways I can help
Creative therapy, shaped around you
From talking therapies to drama, movement and play, every approach starts with a safe, non-judgemental space.
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Dramatherapy
50-minute sessionsA form of psychotherapy that uses role-play, improvisation, storytelling, puppetry and movement to explore feelings and support healing.
About dramatherapy -
Counselling
Individuals, couples & familiesPerson-centred counselling: a safe space to talk, with no judgement and no advice-giving. We usually start with six sessions, then review together.
About counselling -
Psychotherapy
Integrative approachA talking therapy drawing on person-centred, humanistic, psychodynamic, creative-arts and CBT approaches, to support a calmer, more balanced life.
About psychotherapy -
EMDR therapy
Free 30-minute introductionEye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing follows a structured eight-phase approach to help with past traumatic memories and flashbacks.
About EMDR -
Creative Couples Counselling
OnlineHelps to reset and realign your relationship: a chemistry session, then a bespoke 10-week programme. Think of it as an MOT for the relationship.
About couples counselling -
Clinical supervision & training
For practitioners & organisationsCreative supervision for qualified and trainee therapists and school counsellors, plus interactive training and facilitation for teams.
For professionals
Some of the props Judy uses in dramatherapy (posed photo).
Why creative therapy?
When words are hard to find
Dramatherapy combines psychology and performance. Instead of only talking, we might use objects, stories, role-play or movement to approach things that feel too big or too tangled to say out loud.
- Often used with anxiety, low mood, trauma and relationship difficulties
- Can support self-esteem, communication and self-expression
- Offers useful tools for actors and performers, too
- Always at your pace, in a safe and supportive space
Meet your therapist
Hello, I’m Judy
Dramatherapist · HCPC registered · Founder of Therawake
Since completing my degree in Psychology and Counselling in 2001, I’ve worked with some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, in children’s homes, youth offending teams, the probation service, adult mental health and family services.
I trained as a dramatherapist in 2012, after recognising the connection between creativity and psychotherapy. A month-long clinical study in the Caribbean, presented at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, inspired me to develop trauma-focused practice globally.
Training & qualifications
- BSc (Hons) Psychology & Counselling, Roehampton
- MA Dramatherapy, Roehampton
- Diploma in Clinical Supervision (Terapia)
- Couples Counselling (Tavistock and Portman)
- EMDR trained (EMDR Works)
Registered with
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- British Association of Dramatherapists
- EMDR Association
- BAATN
Organisations I have worked with include Ealing Council, MIND, the Refugee Council, SafeLives, Women and Girls Network, Harris Academy, Khulisa, YMCA West Sussex, the Adoption Support Fund, ArtsEd and the Schools Counselling Partnership.
More about JudyFrom the first session we had, she made me feel comfortable and heard … She is very kind, understanding and non-judgemental.
Sue, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist I was held by Judy in a way that made being vulnerable feel safe, and it was in this that I was able to trust the process.
Kate, Specialist Trauma Counsellor Judy has a unique ability to create a safe space where people feel truly seen and heard.
Elizabeth, Google review Judy’s wisdom and warmth radiates through her supervision style.
Isabelle, Drama Therapist
To protect client confidentiality, we only share words from fellow professionals, never from therapy clients.
Your privacy
A safe, confidential space
Reaching out can feel exposing. Here’s what you can count on from the very first conversation.
Confidential from the start
Your first consultation is completely confidential, and Judy explains how confidentiality works before you decide anything.
Registered and accountable
Judy is registered with the HCPC and the British Association of Dramatherapists, and works to their professional standards.
No judgement
A warm, compassionate, non-judgemental approach, with you setting the pace.
Wherever you feel safest
Meet in person in Aylesbury or online from home, anywhere in the UK.
Need help right now? Therawake is not an emergency service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent mental health support, call NHS 111 (option 2), or talk to Samaritans any time, free:
Call Samaritans 116 123Questions
Things people often ask
Can’t see your question? Email admin@therawake.co.uk. There’s no such thing as a silly question.
What happens in a dramatherapy session?
A session might use role-play, storytelling, puppetry, improvisation or movement, alongside talking. Judy creates a safe, supportive space where you can explore feelings and experiences creatively, at your own pace.
What can dramatherapy help with?
Dramatherapy is often used with anxiety, low mood, trauma and relationship difficulties, and it can also support self-esteem and communication. Your first consultation is the place to talk through whether it suits what you are going through.
What is an Initial Chemistry Consultation?
A confidential conversation of around 30 minutes to get to know each other, talk about why you are seeking therapy and what you hope for, ask any questions and decide together whether working with Judy is a good fit.
Can I have sessions online?
Yes. Therawake works online across the UK and in person in Aylesbury. Creative Couples Counselling takes place online.
How many counselling sessions will I need?
Counselling usually starts with six sessions, then you and Judy review together how things are going and what comes next.
How much does therapy cost?
Your first consultation is £25 for about 30 minutes. Fees for ongoing sessions depend on the therapy you choose, and Judy will talk them through with you before you commit to anything. EMDR starts with a free 30-minute introduction.
Can I use my private health insurance?
Judy is listed with WPA private health insurance. Cover depends on your policy, so check with your insurer before you book, and mention it when you get in touch.
Is what I share kept confidential?
Yes. The first consultation is completely confidential, and Judy will explain how confidentiality works in your sessions before you decide anything. Judy is registered with the HCPC and works to its professional standards.
Find us
In Aylesbury, and online across the UK
| Monday – Friday | 9am – 5:30pm |
| Saturday – Sunday | Closed |
Areas we see clients from
- Aylesbury
- Wendover
- Haddenham
- Thame
- Buckingham
- High Wycombe
- Milton Keynes
- Oxford
- Online, UK-wide
For professionals: therapists, schools & organisations
Clinical supervision and creative training
Other therapists trust Judy with their own clinical work. She offers creative clinical supervision, 50 or 90 minutes, individually or in groups, plus interactive training that brings movement, play and the senses into learning.
- Practitioners working with adults, adolescents and children
- Trainees and students at BSc and MA level
- School counsellors, individually or as a group
- Organisations and senior leadership teams
- Universities, colleges and corporate CPD, in the UK and internationally
Trusted by organisations across the UK
Training, supervision and therapeutic work with charities, schools, councils and the arts.
Ready to take the first step?
You’ve already done something brave by looking. Book a confidential 30-minute first consultation, or send Judy an email with any questions.