FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT ART THERAPY
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM ART THERAPY?
Art Therapy can help an extensive range of areas, it is beneficial for children, adolescents and adults including the elderly. It can help people to find their life's purpose, identify passion and find greater fulfillment in life. It is supportive in any life event.
Art Therapy can help with physical and emotional wellness including trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, reduce stress, build self esteem, behaviours and addictions.
WHAT DOES AN ART THERAPY SESSION LOOK LIKE?
At the beginning of the session you may talk a little bit about an issue that is current in your life, or a past experience that you cannot seem to move on from, or you may not talk at all and prefer to just “do some art” and and we explore together what emerges.
I listen to you - not what I think is going on, or what I think you should be working on. I listen to what bought you to art therapy in the first place, and together we work out a plan for how to progress to meet your needs. Most people talk a little bit, do some art and talk a little bit more at the end.
DO I HAVE TO BE ARTISTIC?
No, you do not need to be creative or artistic at all to receive the maximum benefits from your art therapy sessions. Art Therapy is about you expressing what’s going on for you - being able to paint like Picasso isn’t as important as being honest and present to the session.
HOW DOES ART HELP IN THERAPY?
When a therapy session is facilitated by an experienced and qualified Art Therapist, that creative expression can deeply help to release tension, express difficult or overwhelming feelings safely. It also provides you with the opportunity to step back and view the problem or issue from a new perspective, and integrate experiences holistically.
HOW LONG IS A SESSION?
An Art Therapy session is usually 1 hour in length.
HOW LONG BEFORE I CAN EXPECT TO SEE RESULTS FROM MY SESSIONS?
Everyone is unique and therefore results vary depending on many factors including the presenting issue, self awareness, environmental factors such as home and work environment, length of time you have been experiencing the symptoms, age it developed, and how long you have been living like this. I have had some people say they feel immediate, powerful benefits after the first session, other people feel it more subtly and may require weekly or fortnightly sessions over a period of months. It depends on your individual needs and your goals for therapy.