art therapy

Art therapy is suitable for all ages at all stages of life, including those who have been affected by a difficult personal or cultural experience, illness or disability. Art therapy can be particularly helpful for individuals who find verbal communication challenging, such as children, trauma survivors or those facing emotional difficulties.

Art therapy is not about creating “good” art. It is about using art as a way to express your thoughts, feelings and experiences. Our art therapist will help you to explore your art and to understand what it means to you. If you are interested in trying art therapy, but you are worried about your artistic ability, we encourage you to contact our art therapist and discuss your concerns. They can help you to understand how art therapy works and to decide if it is right for you.

The art therapy sessions allow the child or adult to have a confidential space to make sense of their feelings. Parents don’t usually attend but there may be a need for Dyadic (parent and child) sessions. There is always an initial meeting with parents to discuss the therapy process then an assessment period and from that the course of therapy is determined. The therapist will keep in contact with parents and there will be regular reviews.

Everything that is shared in the session is confidential, including your artwork. Of course, if you would like to share the art you create in a session with others you are free to do so, but more often than not the therapist will keep the work until the end of therapy; it can be an important tool in reviewing your journey through therapy.

The art therapist doesn’t interpret the artwork themselves; instead they will guide you in exploring the images, symbols and emotions that arise during the art-making process. This collaborative exploration can help you gain insights into your own thoughts and feelings, improve self-awareness, enhance emotional regulation and develop coping strategies.

The art therapist will have a wide range of materials available to use from paint, pastels, inks, crayons and felt tips to clay and mixed media materials so you will be able to explore which best suits your needs at each session.

Art psychotherapy is based on the development of a relationship between the therapist and client that is safe and consistent, this can take time. Depending on the needs of the client, art therapy can be offered as a brief intervention or a longer-term treatment to resolve difficulties.