What is Art Psychotherapy?

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Art Psychotherapy, or Art Therapy, as it is sometimes referred to, is a form of therapy where thoughts, feelings and emotions can be explored through the process of making art. Everyone can find talking about certain things difficult when they are asked to use words, but colours, shapes or textures can express these more easily.

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Within the safe and supported Art Psychotherapy space, you will have the opportunity to make you own art in sessions as a way to help you express how you feel.

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Through images and art making, you can explore your memories, feelings, dreams and fantasies in order to link past life events with your present difficulties. Using art to explore these experiences, leads to people having a better understanding of themselves, their relationships with others and the nature of their distress.

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Art making can also allow you to recognise triggers causing your mental health to decline, or negative behaviours that have become ingrained over time. Making art can also be used as a way of managing your difficulties. 

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I will support you to reflect and make sense of your inner self, which will lead to positive, enduring changes in your mental health. 

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Art Psychotherapists do not analyse or interpret the images made in sessions, but they carefully listen, reflect and attempt to identify what the artist is conveying through their art. 

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You do not need to be good at art, just willing to use the art materials on offer. An Art Psychotherapist is not primarily concerned with making an aesthetic assessment of the art work. The process of making art within a three-way relationship of client, image and therapist is paramount.  

 

If you want to improve your art skills or use art as a relaxing hobby, you will need to look elsewhere.