Discover Art Therapy
I love sharing what art therapy is, because there is so much more to it than the name suggests.
Creating art is magical!
Yes, I completely understand what it is like to lose track of time and immerse myself fully into art making, where all of my cares, concerns and challenges seemingly melt away in that time.
This form of art making is one that invites opportunity towards experiencing being mindfully present in the moment, and yes those moments can be restorative, peaceful and calming.
This form of experiencing art making is wonderful and I will always encourage others to find ways to invite creativity into their lives..... However....
Here is a bit of information on how art therapy is more than what I have just described....
What is art therapy? It is more than coloring books, more than art classes, more than art making that enhances talk therapy.
Art therapy is a counselling specialty that does not rely on any other form of counselling to be effective, healing, transformative and powerful.
You will find that during art therapy art therapists will use their knowledge of psychology, (along with their knowledge of art materials and processes) to create a therapeutic experience unlike traditional talk therapy. Art therapy supports individuals with accessing information from their memories in a way that they have not been able to do so through speaking or writing.
The art therapy environment is one of safety where your inner voice and lived experiences can be expressed, explored for meaning and for healing.
Art therapy:
~ Engages the whole person in an embodied process that allows self-expression to emerge that does not rely upon speaking or written language.
~ Holds capacity for deep complexity and refined simplicity.
~ Is a therapeutic modality that engages both mind and body in the therapeutic work.
~ Is accessible, highly effective, and does not require special skills or artistic talent.
~ Holds the capacity for deep complexity and refined simplicity.
~ Supports meaning-making through metaphors, narratives, abstracts and expressive imagery.
~ Is facilitated with a trained Art Therapist who can help deepen the process, support emotional exploration and growth, while maintaining a safe therapeutic environment.
And.... You do not need to be creative or artistic in order to engage in art therapy!
The following links offer answers to FAQs about Art Therapy.
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