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what's ART THERAPY?
WHAT IS ART THERAPY?
Art Therapy is a form of therapy which uses the artistic and creative expression of an individual to express and explore their inner world, their traumas and perceived problems, along with their joys, their strengths, and their goals for the future.
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Art Therapy can take the pressure off the individual to bring up and rehash old traumas or to talk about problems over and over, and instead allows the individual to safely explore themselves in a non-threatening and non-judgemental environment.
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It’s not about talking, it’s not about struggling to find the words to express an often unexplainable and wordless emotion or experience.
It’s also not about making Really Good Art, just in case anyone was wondering about that.
It’s about USING art. It’s about using a creative process to explore and express our inner worlds, thoughts, experiences and emotions.
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​It’s about creating a physical and tangible representation of our pains and our joys. It’s about building and focusing on ways forward. And it’s about self-reflection and exploring and gaining insight of our inner worlds and the reality we create, and doing so in our own time and space.
IMPACT AND OUTCOMES
Participating in Art Therapy can provide individuals with tools, resources and skills to assist them in living a more positive, empowered, and meaningful life.
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As clients engage in a state of flow while creating art pieces, they are able to relax and simply create. The reflection of the finished art work can bring a feeling of success and accomplishment, showing clients that, Yes They Can, and Yes They Did.
​Some of the skills developed with Art Therapy can include things like learning to process difficult emotions and experiences, improving self-awareness and managing behaviours, gaining insight and developing coping skills, fostering self-regulation, minimising stress, living in the present moment, acceptance, forgiveness, coping with pain and disability, processing loss and grief, managing mental health, building resilience, identifying and meeting needs, increasing self-esteem, increasing self-care, building meaningful relationships, positive communication, learning to set achievable goals and action plans and providing purpose and meaning to life.
​Art Therapy also helps to add meaning and connection with a clients experiences, adding a sense of control over a clients world, a feeling of acceptance, and a bigger picture perspective. So even when delving into the depths of pain and trauma, or any other ‘negative’ experiences and emotions, clients are able to release and let go, to express and explore and to come to terms with where they are at in life and how they can move forward.
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All of these positive skills and actions contribute to a feeling of empowerment, purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in life.
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​Art Therapy is accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds and includes a range of different creative and artistic mediums. No prior artistic or creative skills are needed. All materials are provided (in person only).
IS ART THERAPY FOR ME?
Art Therapy really is for everyone. A lot of people started scribbling bits of artworks before they could even walk - now that's saying something!
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Below are just some of the areas that Art Therapy can be beneficial:
AND THERE'S MORE:
Art Therapy is not just for the big deep painful nasty bits that need to be healed, it's for lot's of fun stuff too! Positive psychology, mapping out our wildest dreams, personal development, exploring our greatest potentials, memories, celebrations and so much more can be enjoyed with Art Therapy.
If you've got an idea, we have a paint brush to match!