what is art therapy?
what does a session involve?
talking therapy also available
what is art therapy ?
art therapy involves the use of art materials and sometimes, art-making, in a therapeutic session with a qualified and registered art therapist
it is a type of psychotherapy that uses art materials and processes to explore mental health concerns
art materials and art-making can be used for many therapeutic benefits, such as to develop insight to your current concerns, explore the challenges of life in a different way, develop strategies and habits for coping with anxiety, depression, stress and trauma, knowing who you are and working out how to live the life you want to lead
anyone is welcome and able to explore whether art therapy is suitable for them, we can work out together if it is suitable for you
you do not need any art skills to do art therapy
art therapy is not an art class or an art workshop, the focus will be on what you want to explore in the therapy session, not on your art skills
if you are an artist, I will respect how important this is to you
I do not interpret your artwork, you will decide if you want to make meaning of your work through talking with me about it if you want to
your artwork can be taken with you after the session
what happens in an art therapy session?
once we start therapy sessions, you will decide whether you want to use art materials or do any art-making in our sessions
sometimes people prefer just to talk, and that is ok too
if you decide you want to make some art, you can take your own direction or you can ask me for a “prompt” to help you get started (a prompt is an idea I can offer that will be related to your concerns or goals)
once you have finished your art-making, we will look at it together and, if you decide to, we can wonder about it too, I will help you explore any meaning you might make out of your art by asking you about it
I don’t interpret or suggest meaning for your artwork, and I don’t critique your technical skills
sometimes you may prefer to use the art materials without specifically planning to make an artwork, such as to improve your mood through play, relaxation, or to shake off uncomfortable feelings
I will get to know you and what your preferences are in the way we work together, and the art materials you like and dislike
I will work to help you navigate difficult feelings that can come up in therapy sessions and to feel in control
talking therapy is available too
not everyone is looking for art therapy
talking therapy is available too
I use my experience in psychological therapies as a social worker to provide my clients with both counselling and creative arts therapies
… along with cups of tea, care, respect, and a space to decompress, think and find understanding
particular areas of training, experience and interest include complex trauma therapy, mindfulness-based and relaxation therapies, dialectical-behavioural therapy (DBT) and internal family systems (IFS) therapy
I have expertise in being part of a team who manage a young person’s mental health diagnosis and care, so can work alongside other health professionals involved in a person’s mental health care.
how do we start?
to start, we will have an ‘intake’ phone call (no fee applied) and if you want to proceed, an intake session where we talk about what the therapy could look like, discuss and sign consent forms about the work we will do, and gather information about your concerns and hopes from therapy - it is during this time that we will work out if I am the right ‘fit’ for the work you are looking for - if I am not, I will have suggestions for contacts and services that could be more suitable
parents/carers are asked to attend a separate intake session before I can start working with a young person, and to attend feedback/review sessions at times to ensure that we have a shared understanding of the young person’s circumstances
confidentiality of the therapy sessions is an important topic we will discuss and part of the consent process
