Art Therapy is for anyone and everyone!

The creation of art in and of itself is therapeutic and can be healing.The creation of art in an art therapy sessions allows for different angles and ways of expression that perhaps feel safer than simply talking.

Art therapy can be beneficial to those struggling with a range of emotional difficulties such as anxiety, depression and low self esteem. It is also very effective in working through trauma, addictions, challenging life situations and behavioral disorders.
 
Art therapy is not just for individuals and can also take place in groups where the group dynamic contributes to the process of the therapy. Groups would often have a common interest and aim and can be either directive or non-directive.

Do I need to be good at art to come for Art Therapy?

Absolutely not.

Art therapy does not focus the aesthetics of your image. Rather, the focus is what is expressed and how one expresses themself. The aim is not to create something that looks “good”, but to simply create!

"But if you have nothing at all to create, perhaps you create yourself."
- Carl Jung

What to expect at an Art Therapy session

Individual art therapy sessions preferably take place once a week for a 50 minute session in a consistent space. The length of time one needs to attend art therapy for will depend on the individual and their specific needs. Various art materials will be supplied and the session will involve time creating and reflecting on this creation with the therapist. Many forms of art creation can take place ranging from using clay, paints or charcoal.

Art therapy sessions can either be directive where the therapist may bring a certain activity for the individual to engage with or non- directive where the individual will lead the session according to what he/she feels they might need to gain from the session. Having a directive session or non- directive session will depend on the length of time the individual is in therapy for and what the individual’s needs are. Sometimes both methods are used in the therapy.

Art therapy can be either long term and ongoing therapy (in which case the therapist would generally take a more non- directive approach) or short term where a set amount of sessions are decided on upfront (in this case the therapist may take a more goal orientated, directive approach)