Art Therapy

Art Therapy

Art Therapy is similar to psychotherapy in that we work with the psychological processes of the internal world in order to foster improved self-esteem, confidence, personal fulfillment and healthier interpersonal relationships.

Additionally the creative process of making images is healing in its own right. Making images by-passes the known language systems, introducing the symbolic, and creating a new landscape to explore.

Art Therapy is a useful approach for children and young people who may not have developed a psychological language, as well as with adults who struggle to make sense of their world and cannot always articulate why. Interestingly, Art Therapy is also effective with high-powered individuals with strong verbal skills, as the image-making cuts through ?the known? and introduces a new psychological world of the unknown or unconscious from which to grow.

If you are a client interested in Art Therapy, please call to make an initial assessment meeting. This is for you to assess if you would like to work with me, as much as it is for me to see if we can clarify realistic goals within a reasonable time frame.

If you are a parent and would like to refer your child or teenager, I also suggest this initial assessment meeting. I prefer to do this with the child or teenager alone but if they do not want to be left, this is not mandatory. At the end of the meeting, we will have an opportunity to discuss whether Art Therapy is the best approach for your child and allow him or her to give feedback on the session before deciding on an intervention.

What can it treat?

Art Therapy is a useful intervention for a range of psychological issues. When life goes wrong and creates internal confusion or turmoil, Art Therapy can provide reflective time and space to think through the issues and how best to understand and approach them. The sort of situations may be a relationship crisis, post-divorce, a bereavement, coming to terms with a debilitating illness, a breakdown, suicidal ideation or shock.

For other people, there may not be a specific reason to start an Art Therapy intervention, but a general sense of malaise, unhappiness, lack of fulfillment may indicate that some psychological process work would be of benefit. More specific symptoms may include relationship difficulties, chronic addictions, eating disorders, depression, poor sleep patterns, which can indicate that something is deeply unsatisfying in life. Art Therapy offers the opportunity of exploring and understanding the whys and wherefores and work towards improvement.

Children and teenagers going through a difficult time, presenting emotional and/or behavioural difficulties usually find art therapy very helpful as they can explore their struggles in a safe, caring and creative space.