What is Art Psychotherapy?

Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy where we use art materials to help us express and communicate our thoughts and feelings to an art therapist. As well as drawing, sculpting, and painting, some people like to sing, write poems, or use movement. These are great ways to help us express our feelings and emotions in a safe way. You do not have to be ‘good’ at art or have done much drawing/painting previously for the art therapy to be effective. In various studies, art-making has been shown to reduce stress hormones in our body, so we can feel more relaxed after we have been making artwork alongside a trusted person.  

We can use art-making:  

• To support our emotional wellbeing   

• To make sense of confusing or distressing feelings

• To help us organise our thoughts  

Art Therapy Review

This is when we discuss your therapy progress at regular intervals. We use your art-making to find themes, stories, and insights. Using your pictures can help us understand your thoughts, feelings, and any worries or concerns you may have.

Confidentiality

Your sessions are private and confidential – this means I will not share specific information about your therapy sessions to anyone else. There is a limit to this confidentiality, for example, if I was worried about your safety or someone else’s, I may have to speak to someone else about this (please see my confidentiality policy for more information).

Guided Drawing

This is a form of Sensorimotor Art Therapy that uses bilateral drawing (drawing with both hands) to help the nervous system regulate so you feel more supported. Guided Drawing can support the safe release of trauma, or to express and release tension and stress in the body and mind.

Non-Verbal Art Making

The use of art materials to create a picture, 3D object, or collage to support our understanding of ourselves, our thoughts, and our feelings. Sometimes art-making is more like play, where the focus is on the process, not the end product (e.g. the goal isn’t to make a ‘good picture’ like you might want to in an art class). There is no pressure to talk during the process, although you can talk if you want to. Then we can talk afterwards and reflect on the artwork.

Please note, the drawings on this page are my own, and not client artwork.