What is art therapy?
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art making and the creative process to help people explore feelings, emotions and experiences.
Art therapy is a three way process that focusses on both art making and the relationship between the client and the therapist.
You don’t need to have any previous experience in art making or be ‘good’ at art to have art therapy- the therapist is not concerned with making an aesthetic judgement of the artwork created in art therapy.
Art therapists often provide play materials for younger children; playing in the presence of an art therapist can help them to communicate feelings which are too hard to explain. When working with children in art therapy there may be a mixture of making art, talking and playing.
Art therapy can be helpful for people who find talking about their feelings difficult. The art making process can facilitate expression of hidden or unwanted feelings and help to bring them out into the open.
How can art therapy help?
Art therapy can help children, young people and adults who are going through, or have been through a difficult time, understand their feelings and make sense of their experiences.
Art therapy sessions are unique to each person - the needs of the client are at the forefront of the therapy. The client and the therapist work together in art therapy; focussing on art making and thinking about what arises during sessions.
The therapist explores both conscious and unconscious thoughts and feelings with the client, helping them to express and understand their emotions and experiences and find positive ways to deal with them.
In this way, art therapy can offer a way to gain more insight and a different perspective, fostering change and growth in the individual.
Who might benefit?
Art therapy can help people for many different reasons, someone may see an art therapist if they are:
Feeling anxious/depressed/withdrawn or unhappy
Affected by attachment difficulties
Experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties
Lacking in confidence/self esteem
Experiencing family breakdown or relationship difficulties
Suffering with an eating disorder or self harming
Having friendship difficulties
Affected by bereavement
Diagnosed with dementia
Affected by a physical health condition or illness