What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy where problems are addressed through making visual art. Making art tends to be inherently therapeutic because it is a “whole brain activity” that helps us clear our thoughts and calm our emotions.
The art therapy process, however, is much more than just the natural benefits of art-making. When you work with a trained Art Therapist, we make use of these natural benefits to help us go deeper into what you are struggling with, to find new perspectives and creative solutions.
Who Is Art Therapy For?
Art therapy can work with anyone who is interested in trying it. Often, adults are drawn to art therapy for reasons such as:
difficulty putting their feelings or experiences into words
feeling like they have been talking about their issues for years, but feel stuck
a natural tendency towards the visual, or enjoyment of using their hands
a need for a sense of containment or safety in therapy
a desire to reconnect or discover their creative side
a gentle way of beginning to process trauma or loss
What Does an Art Therapy Session Look Like?
In art therapy sessions with adults, we usually start with a little bit of talking. We take some time to identify your goals for therapy, and I gather some history about you and your concerns. Then, it is your time to make some art! Many people like a bit of direction at first, so I have lots of different art-making prompts to help you get started.
I usually sit with you as you work, and watch as the work progresses. An important note is that I do not interpret or judge your art work, nor do I use your art to make any kind of mental health diagnosis. The art you make is for you. There is no need to talk while you work. If the sessions are online video, you can choose to aim the camera at your hands/art if you want to.
Once you are done working on your art for that session, we take some time to explore your creation before we close the session. We can do this in many different kinds of ways - through asking questions about what you notice, with writing or poetry prompts, by exploring your emotional, bodily or sensory reactions to the art, by exploring memories the art brings to mind, or even by making another piece of art as a response!