The Artistic Psychologist (TAP) was born from my personal experience at University after a breakup that deeply affected me. Fortunately, a kind lecturer noticed I wasn’t okay and created a safe space for me to open up. One thing that stuck with me from these sessions is how genuinely they listened to me without any judgement. From then on, I realised the importance of safe spaces where we can share our stories and how healing those spaces can be.

During that period, I started a blog called The Artistic Psychologist to share my journey through mental health using poetry and thought pieces. In addition, while pursuing my degree in Psychology, I developed a passion for mental health. I felt called to help spread awareness about mental health, especially to the youth in my country, Kenya. I also noticed that a lot of mental health resources were very Westernised and often unreliable or inaccessible to most people in my country and continent. I aimed to change that by sharing local stories and directing people to local resources that resonate with us.

With the expansion of our team, we have started to expand our collaboration with other organisations. These partnerships are designed to broaden the accessibility of mental health information, ensuring that it reaches individuals and communities who may not have had the opportunity to access such resources in the past. By working together, we aim to break down barriers and empower more people with the knowledge they need to support their mental well-being.

Pauline Nanjala Wanyonyi
Founder of The Artistic Psychologist