About therapy

Psychotherapy and counselling aim to provide long term relief through gaining a deep understanding of a person’s problems. There are many psychotherapy approaches. The most common are ‘talk based approaches’, such as CBT. Talk therapy has limitations, as often it is difficult to bring words to our complex experiences.

Art therapy is a type of psychotherapy, it is centres the relationship between the therapist and client, while also incorporating modern understanding of mental health and well being. It prioritises the clients lived experience and finding ways to make sense and meaning from our lives.

You do not need to be an artist, have arts skills or be ‘arty’ - it is about using creativity to support mental health. Creative approaches to therapy are extensively researched and proven to be effective in supporting mental health and wellbeing.

The art approach can be used in many ways. Some people need to spend the duration of their session talking and may talk throughout a creative process. Counselling is integrated throughout the sessions, during art making.

The art approach can assist stress reduction, as a tool for expressing about emotions and inner experiences and making sense of lived experiences. Art making can support creating a story of experiences that are difficult to speak about.

Art making can reduce the pressure of coming to therapy, as it is calming and can help talking to come more naturally. Some people may not wish to make art during the session but choose to work creatively in response to therapy at home. Others choose to just talk, while I may draw in response to externalise and make sense of what is being shared.

Art making allows unconscious material to emerge and become a conscious part of the therapy process.