A chat with CATS
We wanted to shine a spotlight on a service that celebrates and supports creativity, so we we reached out to Mar from Creative Arts Therapies Space to hear about the work they do.
Creative Arts Therapies Space (CATS) is a Community Interest Company rooted in Edinburgh, where we’re dedicated to nurturing mental health and wellbeing through the power of creativity.
We offer affordable and available, sliding-scale therapy sessions led by HCPC registered Creative Therapists, all within a
welcoming and inclusive environment. Alongside therapy, we support professionals with supervision and ongoing development, and we provide space for community art projects to flourish. Our vision is to build a sustainable model that eventually allows us to offer free therapy to those who need it most.
From our base at 43–45 Easter Road, we make it simple for individuals to access creative therapy with free initial consultations and flexible fees from £40–£60. We centre personal choice—whether that’s in therapist, modality, or session timing—and offer trauma-informed support tailored to each person’s needs. We’re passionate about building community from the inside out. Our space enables therapists to collaborate and design low-cost or free therapeutic groups.
Right now, we’re partnering with two of our resident art psychotherapists and an external movement therapist launching a Movement and Mark-Making group for refugees, blending art and movement therapy to support trauma recovery. We’re
also exploring a new psychoeducational workshop that integrates CBT and Art Therapy, rooted in creativity and accessibility.
Beyond therapy, we support local creatives by offering affordable spaces for community art initiatives—empowering people to bring their ideas to life and build connections through creativity.
My passion is both professional and deeply personal. As an Art Therapist, I understand the importance of making care affordable and meaningful, especially when NHS services are overwhelmed and private therapy often feels out of reach.
As someone who is queer and neurodiverse, I’ve experienced both the healing power of good therapy and the harm caused by poorly informed practice. That journey fuels my drive to create spaces where identities are respected, and therapy is approached with cultural humility and care.
I believe in the strength of collective growth—that when therapists are supported and given space to develop ethically and creatively, we can offer richer, more responsive care to those we serve. Creating a community where diversity is celebrated and therapists are empowered benefits everyone.
Looking after my mental health is a daily practice of connection—to myself, to others, and to the world around me. I turn to creative expression through painting and writing, and I seek grounding in nature whenever I can. Movement plays a big role in my well-being, whether it’s through dancing, yoga, gym sessions, or life modelling—it helps me stay connected to my body and emotions.
Community is also essential. Since arriving in Edinburgh, I’ve found meaningful relationships and spaces that remind me I’m not alone. I try to meet myself with compassion—holding space for growth while remaining accountable. I honour the ebb and flow of my emotional life, recognising that both joy and struggle are part of the human experience. Therapy and supervision are vital parts of my journey, continually deepening my self-awareness and grounding my practice in authenticity.
By Mariana (Mar) Loewy, Founder and Operations Manager
Find out more about CATS and the support they offer.
Do you live and/or work in Edinburgh and want to share your own experiences of mental health and wellbeing and the different ways keep you well? If you would like us to share your story, please email ithrive@health-in-mind.org.uk.