The arts have been used by humans for thousands of years as a way to communicate not only experiences of beauty, but also those of struggle, crisis and trauma. In this sense, art is an evolutionary behaviour that has been used in times of trouble and is available to everyone as a way to convey what may not be possible with words alone.
Cath Malchiodi
Art therapy today is a mental health profession that uses the intentional and therapeutic use of art making to facilitate healing, emotional expression and self-understanding. This can take place in an individual session or within a specific group setting.
People benefit from seeking support from various types of helping professions at different times in their lives. Many of us are used to being the experts of our own problems and generally access this knowledge through cognitive brain. My years of visual art journaling have taught me first hand, the benefits of approaching and exploring challenges through hands on art making and other visual methods.
Art Therapy can provide a conduit to thoughts, self limiting beliefs and feelings that are buried very deeply and help people to access and work with those in new ways. Through the making of images it is possible to externalise and objectify experience so that we are able to reflect upon that and gain personal insights.
Art therapy sessions allow time and space for people to focus on the process of creating art and then with guidance from the art therapist, to explore the meaning contained within the artwork. This can be an enlightening process that helps people to access the deeper self in a visual way. An art therapist will facilitate understanding of the image in a way that allows people to discuss aspects that they feel comfortable with and ready to discuss. It is always up to the person who created the image to put meaning towards it. This is based upon the belief that the images and objects created hold or contain feelings that might otherwise be causing health issues or emotional pain.
Contact me for private Art Therapy sessions, as well as bespoke group work programmes in schools, the community and in corporate settings.
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