What is Art Therapy?Evidence based studies have demonstrated art therapy as a beneficial intervention for people of all ages and abilities.
Art therapy uniquely blends creative process with counselling and psychotherapy. It offers clients opportunities to communicate, understand and reflect on their responses to a range of issues, both verbally and non-verbally, within the safety of a supportive confidential relationship.
Many clients find art therapy to be a non-threatening and gentler way of exploring difficult issues.
Art therapy is an interdisciplinary form of psychotherapy and works across many health and medical fields. The use of art activities as primary forms of communication within the therapeutic setting distinguishes art therapy from counselling, psychology and social work.
Art therapy differs from traditional art in that the emphasis is on the process of creating rather than on the end product and it is therefore not necessary for clients to have artistic ability in order to participate in and benefit from art therapy. The creative processes facilitate self-expression, greater self awareness, change and growth. Emerging art works reflect deeply personal experiences that are communicated within the confidentiality of the therapeutic relationship and are generally not suited for exhibition and display.
The opportunities for non-verbal communication offered by working with the materials is especially helpful for people who find it difficult to put their thoughts and feelings into words but can also be a useful support for those people who may over verbalise in order to deflect away from their feelings.
What Art Therapy offers:
- An environment where people can feel heard and understood both verbally and non-verbally in a non-judgmental environment.
- The ability to accept and address emotional, cognitive and physical difficulties through the creative process.
- A deepening of relationships to self, others and the environment.
- Increased skill in art making, thereby raising self-esteem and confidence.
- An opportunity to engage in non-verbal communication when issues or feelings may be too painful to talk about.
- Identification and development of personal strengths which fosters greater resilience.
- Facilitation of clearer understanding of feelings and problems that may be repressed, unconscious or denied.
- Opportunity to experience the positive effects generated through creative activity. Creativity has been linked to happiness.
- Assists children with the development of fine motor skills and cognitive processes.
- Fostering of a sense of mastery, self control and improvement in social skills.
- A therapy that can easily accomodate other expressive therapies and psychotherapeutic approaches.
- Making the invisible (such as painful emotions and experiences) visible through external expression.
- Helping to identify problems that may underlie patterns of self-destructive behaviours.
Services offered:
- Individual therapy
- Specific programmes for small groups
- Family therapy
- Sliding fee scale
- Christian faith based approach to therapy at client's request.
Art psychotherapy is recognised by the Australian and New Zealand Governments and in November of 2007 was recognised given Health Professionals Award status.
