What is art therapy?

Art therapy is an established form of psychotherapy, delivered by trained art therapists (also known as art psychotherapists).

Art therapy uses art as the primary mode of expression, alongside talking with an art therapist. It aims to reduce distress and improve social, emotional and mental health by promoting insight, self-compassion and a sense of agency and self-worth.

During art therapy, you are supported by an art therapist to use art to express and articulate often complex thoughts and feelings through art making. This may be following difficult or traumatic experiences which may be hard to talk about.

Who is art therapy suitable for?

Art therapy can help people of all ages and at all stages of life, including those whose life has been affected by difficult personal or cultural experiences, illness and/or disability. You do not need to be skilled in art to benefit from art therapy.

How is art therapy regulated?

In the UK, the title art therapist and art psychotherapist are protected by law. All UK art therapists must be state registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). All registered art therapists can be found on the HCPC’s register.

For further information on Art Therapy you can visit the British Association of Art Therapists.

I like the idea of Art Therapy but do I have to be good at art?

One comment I hear often from adults thinking about art therapy is ‘I’m not good at art.’ Sadly many people have had difficult experiences with art, particularly at school. But art therapy is not about creating a perfect picture to frame, it’s about the process of creating in itself that often brings up unconscious information from which new thoughts, feelings, links, and understandings can emerge. This can be through traditional art materials such as painting and drawing but may also include clay, sand tray, collage, postcard images, poetry and writing. I can help clients gently access their own creativity and build confidence in using art to express themselves.

What is Somatic Experiencing?

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How long is a therapy session?

Each session is 50-minutes, and ideally is held at the same time each week.