Why art therapy?
Art therapy engages the body, mind and heart. It is a sensorial practice which connects us with our vitality and creativity, offering us a language to explore and express our emotions and a space to tell the stories that cannot be easily expressed in words.
We use the art process to ‘see’ our story or ‘do’ something tangible with our feelings. This can offer new insights and experiences, and we begin to sense the possibility of change.
What is art therapy?
Art therapy is an established form of psychotherapy. Art therapists are trained in psychological theory and in the therapeutic use of art and creative processes to support people in managing mental health challenges. Using the arts for healing has been practiced by societies for millenia. Now neuroscience can describe precisely the extraordinary impacts of the arts on the brain, while research studies provide evidence of the effectiveness of art therapy for different groups of people.
What happens in art therapy?
We combine talking and creative work on topics that are important to you. We work with paints, pastels, clay, collage materials, fabrics, wire, natural materials, light and shadow… Each material has its own specific qualities and offers a different experience. We might create together or in parallel, or you may work alone with me as your witness. Sometimes we talk during the process, at other times we reflect afterwards.
My role as a therapist is not to tell you what to do, but to hear you, see you, respect your autonomy, help you recognize your strengths, and give you my full presence as I accompany you on your journey.
