Art Therapy

Art Therapy is based on the idea that expressing oneself using art materials and creative processes promotes healing and emotional wellbeing. Art Therapy is suitable for all ages - children, teenagers and young people, and adults.

Art Therapy is NOT about having amazing artistic skills, great use of arty techniques, or even how good your art piece may look at the end of the session. Art Therapy is also not about aesthetics or teaching art skills - it is not an art class.

Art therapy IS the method of using art materials and creative practices to explore your inner world and express yourself creatively. As a result of such creative processes, clients can:

• gain insight
• strengthen self-awareness
• develop coping skills
• promote problem solving and make meaning of events and experiences

Art Therapy offers the benefit of enabling expression that may not be possible with words or language. This is where Art Therapy differs from talk-based approaches as creativity taps the right side of the brain, and involves bodily senses like touch, sight, sound and even smell. While it’s not essential to talk in session, once the creative process is finished clients may reflect on their art creation by verbally exploring it with their therapist. A trained Art Therapist supports and guides the client through this process so that clients can observe what they have made and identify patterns, themes and/or conflicts that may be affecting their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Creating an expressive art piece, following up with reflecting and talking about it promotes integration. Integration is a powerful tool in growth and healing because there is a weaving together of experiences and understanding.

Art materials are intentionally and carefully chosen to support the therapeutic effect. Some of the techniques used in art therapy include collage, colouring, doodling and scribbling, drawing,finger painting, painting, photography, sculpting and working with clay.

Our Services

Some examples of areas which Art Therapy can support with are listed below:

• Mental health concerns – such as anxiety and depression, personality disorders and psychosis
• Emotional wellbeing and emotional regulation – building self-awareness, self-esteem and fostering self-discovery
• Coping with stress
• Trauma and PTSD
• Grief and loss
• Identity – gender and/or sexual identity
• Eating disorders
• Substance use and addiction
• Physical health conditions including cancer, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury
• Relationship difficulties

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning

Fred Rogers