Dynamic Emotional Integration®
"Dynamic Emotional Integration is based on the work of award-winning author and pioneering researcher, Karla McLaren, M.Ed., whose grand unified theory of emotions revalues even the most “negative” emotions and opens startling new pathways to self-awareness, effective communication, and healthy empathy."
If you’d like to learn more about DEI and Karla’s work, visit:
Art and Emotions
Our emotions are powerful sources of wisdom and energy, yet many of us were never taught how to work with them. Art and Emotions offers a playful and intuitive way to explore your feelings and emotions, deepen your self-awareness, and reconnect with your inner creativity and imagination using simple art and mark-making practices.
"Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, creative practices can be a powerful avenue for self-discovery and support. My DEI colleague Sue Barclay has created a wonderful workshop that can help anyone get in touch with their inner artist (spoiler – we are all artists!). Sue’s ingenious ways of incorporating art and mark-making into self-reflection and learning can benefit anyone of any skill level or experience. If you’ve been looking for a way to delve deeper into your emotional understanding and skills in a supportive, fun, and creative environment, Art and Emotions may be the right space for you.”* Karla McLaren, M.Ed.
What Happens in an Art and Emotions Session, Workshop or Course?
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Engage with your feelings and emotions in a safe and creative way using simple art and mark-making practices.
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Develop emotional awareness
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Discover gentle tools for self-regulation and balance
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Reconnect with your inner artist and intuitive wisdom
"A Wordless Practice that Lets Your Emotions Speak"
“When Sue was in her licensing course, she developed an amazing emotion- accessing process called "mark-making," where she had us grab some paper and something that could make marks - crayons, pencils, paints - whatever we had on hand. I call it amazing now, but I was honestly alarmed by it at first, because I can't draw! Yet when Sue asked us to simply make marks, I was suddenly able to transfer what I felt onto paper. Something about getting away from words and being with that untrained part of myself that could just play with paper and make marks -- it was so freeing and illuminating.
I asked Sue to create a course for Empathy Academy. In Sue's course, you'll enter into a conversation with your emotions and explore mark- making, reflection, and activities in a supportive and empathic environment.” Karla McLaren, M.Ed.
One-to-one Sessions
One-to-one sessions are shaped around your needs and can take place online or in person.
Cost of one-to-one sessions
60 minutes – £60
Workshops & Courses
I offer Art and Emotions Workshops & Courses throughout the year, both online and in person. You can join an existing course or ask me to create one for your group.
If you’d like to book an Art and Emotions consultation, workshop or course, or to find out more, please get in touch.
Testimonials
“Sue's courses have, for me translated the therapeutic "Given" that feelings emotions is beneficial in healing, into a practical and simple way of understanding, relating to and channelling emotion. I have found the courses highly beneficial to myself, and therefore also to my clients. the theory is easy to follow, the practices are straightforward and the artwork a neat (effective) way to integrate the material."
Ann, Psychotherapist
"I found this workshop series engaging and accessible. I had a new revelation every week! And Sue’s guidance really helped me to understand my emotions and develop completely new insights and ways of thinking. The work we did helped me to approach my emotions differently in part by reframing my own preconceptions. I explored fixed habits in my thinking, and I feel by the end of the course I had a much deeper awareness of what my emotions ‘were’, why they might feel the way they do, and maybe most importantly, what I can learn from them.
I’ve used the approaches and exercises we explored frequently: in my daily life, and also with my students (I am an art Lecturer). I wish that this practice was taught in schools… I think we would live in a healthier society if it were! Sue’s teaching methods are exceptional, she is clearly highly knowledgeable about the foundational concepts of DEI, and her approach is supportive and focussed. Sue listened carefully to what each participant was communicating and responded thoughtfully to everyone. We also had a laugh, and this made each session fly by. Not only was the course useful and meaningful but it was also extremely enjoyable! Sue creates a focussed but fun atmosphere, encouraging everyone to feel able to contribute as much or as little as they felt like after each exercise. I loved the art element of the workshops, and this allowed me to explore my emotions in a way just writing and talking couldn’t. The exercises were simple and clear but allowed for a great depth of exploration. And I was so interesting to see the similarities and differences in how each of us in the group visualised our emotions. I cannot recommend this course enough. It is so accessible and can be explored on many levels so is suitable for anyone. It could be offered to all ages from children to the elderly, and people of all different backgrounds and with different life experience.
Rosie, Art Lecturer
“Dynamic Emotional Integration (DEI) is a must for anyone who wants to develop a healthy relationship with their emotions, and find a method to befriend themselves. This course is very accessible and immediately practical and usable in day to day life. There are plenty of resources to enhance understanding of DEI in between sessions. Sue is a gifted facilitator. She is very skilful at implementing the work of DEI in a creative and meaningful way. Her workshops meet each participant individually in their life, and the group work is creative and supportive. Be prepared for a transformative paradigm shift that is grounding, inspiring and lasting!”
Alanna
"I wasn’t quite sure what I had signed up for a the start but I am so glad I did. I was immediately put at ease by Sue’s relaxed and happy way she presented very complex principles in packages that were accessible by anyone. Rather than words, we used drawing of colours, patterns & images as a language to communicate to each other what each emotion meant to us. The fact that our emotional literacy has not improved since about age 5 shocked & saddened me. The biggest thing I took away from the course was that feelings like anger, sadness etc pass through many different stages which we would not recognise as being related to their overall heading. Understanding how we as individuals deal with these early indicators, what overall heading they come under, and what will develop if left unheeded helps us welcome them. We can then engage with them and react appropriately. So I am looking forward to starting the follow on course.”
Robert
"Although Sue sent materials in advance of the first Dynamic Emotional Integration workshop I took part in, I didn’t really ‘get’ it until I was on Zoom with six strangers discussing my gut reaction to a ‘family’ of emotions. Sue is a gifted and intuitive guide to excavating emotion. Even on an arm’s length video platform she knows instinctively how to read the room. We strangers quickly became comfortable in one another’s company and, confident we were in a safe space, all sorts of dormant memories and moments of clarity emerged. Initially, I intended to join for four just weeks, but my Saturday mornings were so enlivened by the mix of talking about – and drawing - emotions, that I decided to keep going onto Sue’s second course, which dug even deeper.The drawing, or mark making, with the non-dominant hand (for me, the left hand), was a major plus. Sue’s background as an artist allows her to gently guide participants into drawing out their emotions.My inner critic was immediately silenced. I was amazed at what found its way onto the blank page. So much so that two months on, I am still doing a left-handed drawing a day and I feel it has opened up something in me that was itching to get out."
Jan
“Dynamic Emotional Integration with Sue gave me an incredible insight into how emotions work. Learning to use mark-making unlocked something powerful. I’ll keep using it as a way to understand my feelings more deeply.”
Gabby
