BLOG: Calypso’s Story

10 Jun BLOG: Calypso’s Story

Creativity as Connection: Calypso’s Story 

Oakleaf believes creativity and mental health are deeply connected. Through art, poetry, and playful expression, many of our clients have found new ways to process emotions, build confidence, and feel part of a supportive community. 

For the past eight years, transpersonal arts therapist and educator Calypso Rossoni has been a guiding light on this creative path — designing and leading therapeutic art workshops that support emotional wellbeing, build self-awareness, and create space for connection. 

“It all started in 2017, in Farnham,” Calypso recalls, “while I was completing my MA in Transpersonal Arts Therapy at Tobias School of Art & Therapy. I was doing my placement hours at Creative Response, when one of the artists asked if I’d be interested in leading an Oakleaf art course in Cranleigh. I felt instantly drawn to the idea — and accepted.” 

That single course marked the beginning of a long and meaningful relationship. 

“The experience was deeply rewarding and inspiring – a clear confirmation that I was on the right path towards a career as an arts facilitator, something I had known deep down since my teenage years. And so began my journey with Oakleaf.” 

Since then, Calypso has led more than 15 different workshops across Surrey and online — from ‘Somatic Art Therapy’ and ‘River of Life’ to ‘Coping with Christmas’, ‘Poetry and Illustration’, and ‘Embracing Play and Freedom in Art’. Regardless of format, her goal has always been the same: to offer a space where people feel safe to explore their creativity, reconnect with themselves, and support one another. 

Calypso brings more than technical skill to her sessions — she brings warmth, empathy, and a holistic mindset. With a background in psychology and additional training in transformative arts in Italy, she weaves together art, mindfulness, poetry, and nature to support emotional exploration and healing. 

“When leading sessions, my primary aim is to create a warm, welcoming and non-judgmental environment where clients feel safe to explore both their creative potential and inner journey. 

Many clients arrive believing they’re not creative or ‘not good at art,’” she says. “One of the most fulfilling parts of my work is witnessing these clients rediscover their love for art and begin to shift their self-perception and views on self-worth.” 

That sense of rediscovery is something clients speak about often. One participant shared: 

“Art Therapy helps me to relax and express myself while providing me with a pleasurable task to focus on and forget my troubles… an all-round peaceful space that makes me really happy.” – Fiona, Oakleaf Client 

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, when Oakleaf transitioned to online workshops, Calypso quickly adapted her sessions to ensure clients could continue connecting through creativity. Even with limited materials, attendees were encouraged to improvise — sometimes with just a biro and scrap paper. 

“The goal,” Calypso says, “is to create from a place of freedom — to let go of expectations and reconnect with a childlike innocence.” 

This approach had a lasting impact. As another client described: 

“I bought a notebook as the group suggested and began a regular Mandala journal. It’s been liberating not to be so attached to the quality of my efforts… a useful and alternative way to process difficult feelings.” – Andrea, Oakleaf Client 

Over the years, Calypso has worked with hundreds of individuals from all walks of life, including children and teens with additional learning needs. Her sessions are about more than artistic skill — they build resilience, self-awareness, and emotional wellbeing. 

“Through all the changes over the years, one thing has remained constant – my unwavering desire to help people reconnect with themselves and their sense of wellbeing through art.” 

But perhaps what stands out most is the sense of community she cultivates. 

“Over time, I have come to realise that these courses are far more than just art sessions,” she says. “They’re spaces for personal growth, mutual support, and genuine human connection. Seeing clients welcome each other week after week with genuine care and interest is truly heartwarming.” 

Clients echo this feeling of belonging: 

“These sessions have given me a much-needed focus. We’re usually set a theme or thought to interpret, so that we have the option to engage with one another — something which I now look forward to and rely on. Oakleaf really have been the backbone of my mental health support.” – Jan, Oakleaf Client 

“Most importantly, I rediscovered a deeply important part of myself that had once been lost… I would have been lost without it if the Oakleaf team hadn’t helped me re-find it.” – Oakleaf Client 

Through her work at Oakleaf, Calypso has shown that art isn’t about being ‘good’ at drawing or painting. It’s about expression, connection, and creating space — both physically and emotionally — to simply be. In doing so, she has helped hundreds of people take meaningful steps toward better mental health — and toward themselves. 

About Calypso Rossoni 
Calypso Rossoni is a qualified transpersonal arts therapist and educator with over a decade of experience. She holds a BA in Psychology from Royal Holloway, University of London, and an MA in Transpersonal Arts Therapy from the Tobias School of Art & Therapy. She also completed a Transformative Arts Certificate with Awakening Arts in Italy. Calypso has delivered therapeutic art workshops in a range of community, clinical, and educational settings, including her long-standing partnership with Oakleaf. Her work brings together visual art, mindfulness, nature, and poetry to support emotional healing and personal growth. 

Interested in joining in? 
To find out more about our wellbeing activity offering — creative or otherwise — please visit the Client Calendar on our website. We currently have a full schedule available for the month of June. 

Author: Enya Galway