Jan Jeans

Creative arts and conscious dance have enhanced my life, helped me through some challenging times and deepened my experience of life. I have danced my way through loss, despair and inertia. I have used art to shine a light on the shadows within.

I believe that you don’t have to be an artist or dancer to express something that is almost impossible (and often painful) to put into words, you just have to have a go. I have my many years of experience working therapeutically with people and a huge range of resources available to draw upon. More recently I am a trained in Open Floor movement teacher and offer Therapy in Motion to people who want to  blend and integrate a body (bottom up) approach with a mind (top down) approach, using the wisdom of their own physical experience in the therapeutic encounter.

I have built an eclectic mix of skills and incorporate the creative into whatever work I do. I have extensive experience working with sexual abuse, trauma, anxiety, and self harm, with families, adolescents, children and groups. I am a registered ACC provider. My work life has involved working for, amongst others, Start, Stop, Project Restore, Barnardos UK and Childtime a UK children’s charity.

I have a huge range of methods and techniques that I have acquired over many years of practising and learning as a therapist. My role is to listen, understand, witness, suggest, walk alongside, support and just be with another person in whatever state or place they may find themselves in. My biggest teachers have been the clients I have been lucky enough to work with who have inspired me to continue to do this work. I would also never ask someone to try out something that I myself have not done. Personal development and addressing may own issues are core to the way I practice. I see my journey with my clients as a privilege. We are human beings learning how to be together and manage the many challenges life has to offer along the way.

I have a private practice in my own studio in Lyttelton. I facilitate dance classes and workshops in Open Floor movement practice. I run art and dance workshops in Christchurch exploring common themes of being alive and embracing your humanity. I teach on several counselling courses throughout NZ.

I offer individual sessions; group work; and supervision for counsellors.

Qualifications & Professional Memberships

Registered Counsellor NZAC (Member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors)

Member of ANZACATA (Australia New Zealand and Asia Creative Arts Therapist Association).

Masters in Arts Therapy (Clinical); Whitecliffe College NZ

Certificate in Supervision; Whitecliffe College of Arts

Diploma in Psychotherapy; BCPC UK

Diploma in Systemic Family Therapy; Bristol University UK

Qualified Open Floor Dance Teacher and Therapist; Open Floor International