Art Therapy
“You cannot use up creativity. The more you use the more you have.” Maya Angelou
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy can be defined as a process whereby visual expression (Art) is given the opportunity to communicate symbolically what is happening for us. With the support of an Art Therapist you are able to put words to your creative expression, or Art. This empowers the Art to become a tool that can help you to understand yourself and what is happening in your life. As human beings we all have hurts, disappointments, loss and trauma in our lives although the degree may differ significantly. Art therapy embraces the whole person and their experiences, helping you to use creative expression as a means of expression your emotions and thoughts in relation to your life experiences. Art Therapy is a safe and relatively non intrusive way to explore your life and life's challenges and it is suitable for all ages. The emphasis is on self exploration and transformation, not on making good art. It does not therefore, require you to have artistic ability to participate and benefit, in fact people with no art making experience find Art Therapy to be as liberating and fun as those who do have some experience or interest in art making or creative expression. An Art Therapist uses a range of different materials based on your needs and interests to ensure you get the best possible outcomes from your Art Therapy experience
What are the benefits?
One of the greatest benefits is that Art Therapy allows art and the creative process to be accessible to everyone. The process of creating art work and self expressing does not require you to be artistic or have any art making experience. The process of creative expression provides you with an opportunity to reflect on what is happening in your life in a new, fresh way. The art work you create acts like a mirror providing a reflection for you of what is happening in your life and then with the support of someone trained in Art Therapy and Counselling techniques, such as me, you can use your art work to make sense of what is happening in your life. Other benefits include;
What happens at an Art Therapy session?
During an Art Therapy session the focus is on the creation and viewing of the art work, or what you have created. There is concentration on the symbols and metaphors that emerge from your art work and support to find meaning in these
Sessions are 1 hours duration. During your first session we'll complete an assessment together to see where you are at and to begin to identify the outcomes you hope to achieve from your Art Therapy sessions. From there I will be able to provide you with feedback in the form of a plan created to help you achieve the outcomes you have defined. Follow up sessions are 1 hours duration and would usually be scheduled weekly or fortnightly depending on the level of support you require. Sessions of longer duration can be booked if required. The process allows you to;
Where did Art Therapy come from?
Art Therapy is not new. The use of art making or creative expression processes can be found in the early work of key individuals in the field of psychology including Freud, Jung and Rogers. It has been around for many decades and is very popular across the world as an alternative for people wishing to engage in counselling support but who are either interested in creativity and art making or wanting to try something different to the more traditional styles of talk therapy. Every year there are more and more Art Therapists working in Australia (and across the world) which is very exciting
Art Therapy for Kids
Art Therapy is brilliant for children. The art work provides them with a focus point to begin to describe how they are feeling. Children are generally less inhibited with their art work than adults and more able to freely express in an artistic way. It doesn't make them better at Art Therapy but it does provide them with a rich and positive experience. With my support, children who are engaged in the process achieve great results as they begin to establish a greater understanding of themselves which in turn leads to a more confident and self assured child
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy can be defined as a process whereby visual expression (Art) is given the opportunity to communicate symbolically what is happening for us. With the support of an Art Therapist you are able to put words to your creative expression, or Art. This empowers the Art to become a tool that can help you to understand yourself and what is happening in your life. As human beings we all have hurts, disappointments, loss and trauma in our lives although the degree may differ significantly. Art therapy embraces the whole person and their experiences, helping you to use creative expression as a means of expression your emotions and thoughts in relation to your life experiences. Art Therapy is a safe and relatively non intrusive way to explore your life and life's challenges and it is suitable for all ages. The emphasis is on self exploration and transformation, not on making good art. It does not therefore, require you to have artistic ability to participate and benefit, in fact people with no art making experience find Art Therapy to be as liberating and fun as those who do have some experience or interest in art making or creative expression. An Art Therapist uses a range of different materials based on your needs and interests to ensure you get the best possible outcomes from your Art Therapy experience
What are the benefits?
One of the greatest benefits is that Art Therapy allows art and the creative process to be accessible to everyone. The process of creating art work and self expressing does not require you to be artistic or have any art making experience. The process of creative expression provides you with an opportunity to reflect on what is happening in your life in a new, fresh way. The art work you create acts like a mirror providing a reflection for you of what is happening in your life and then with the support of someone trained in Art Therapy and Counselling techniques, such as me, you can use your art work to make sense of what is happening in your life. Other benefits include;
- The creative process and art can help to make the invisible (such as challenging emotions and experiences) more visable and conscious
- When you create art or express yourself creatively you can validate your connection to the whole of life, increasing your self esteem, self awareness and self validation
- The metaphors and symbols that appear in your art work can help to give a language to things that may be difficult to express just with words
- You have the opportunity to explore and define your own story which is essential to achieving balanced well being
- The opportunity to discover your strengths and authenticity
- Creative expression and the creative process are closely linked to our mood so with art making you can find ways to have a positive influence on your feelings (mood)
- Greater energy and vitality as you visually express thoughts and memories that may have previously been hidden, unconscious or suppressed
- As you identify emerging or re-occuring symbols in your creative expression you have the opportunity to better understand what is happening on an unconscious level
- The creative process engages the whole brain and can stimulate integration of cognitive, feeling and sensory processes - the things that make us feel alive
- The proces is relaxing, stress reducing and helps you to switch off from whatever is happening in your life
- It's a great alternative to traditional talk therapies, particularly if you have tried these and need a break or new way of looking at things
- Art Therapy is hands on, active, fun and productive
What happens at an Art Therapy session?
During an Art Therapy session the focus is on the creation and viewing of the art work, or what you have created. There is concentration on the symbols and metaphors that emerge from your art work and support to find meaning in these
Sessions are 1 hours duration. During your first session we'll complete an assessment together to see where you are at and to begin to identify the outcomes you hope to achieve from your Art Therapy sessions. From there I will be able to provide you with feedback in the form of a plan created to help you achieve the outcomes you have defined. Follow up sessions are 1 hours duration and would usually be scheduled weekly or fortnightly depending on the level of support you require. Sessions of longer duration can be booked if required. The process allows you to;
- Clarify and better understand your personal challenges
- Find solutions by tapping into your own inner creative resources
- Discover your own personal style of creativity
- Feel a greater sense of authenticity as you gain the clarity and understanding
- Experience freedom with your creative expression in a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment
Where did Art Therapy come from?
Art Therapy is not new. The use of art making or creative expression processes can be found in the early work of key individuals in the field of psychology including Freud, Jung and Rogers. It has been around for many decades and is very popular across the world as an alternative for people wishing to engage in counselling support but who are either interested in creativity and art making or wanting to try something different to the more traditional styles of talk therapy. Every year there are more and more Art Therapists working in Australia (and across the world) which is very exciting
Art Therapy for Kids
Art Therapy is brilliant for children. The art work provides them with a focus point to begin to describe how they are feeling. Children are generally less inhibited with their art work than adults and more able to freely express in an artistic way. It doesn't make them better at Art Therapy but it does provide them with a rich and positive experience. With my support, children who are engaged in the process achieve great results as they begin to establish a greater understanding of themselves which in turn leads to a more confident and self assured child
"After participating in Art Therapy with Shannon I am now much more comfortable with the concept of creative expression in whatever form it comes – I see how it can be integrated into all parts of my life - It’s a great tool for getting out of my head, and shifting negative energy. Now that I have experienced a supportive environment where there is no expectation or restraint, I have learned to carry some of this freedom over into my own life, feel when I need to create, and actually allow myself the time and space to do so
Art Therapy has opened up some amazing channels of creativity – the last few months have been amazing. I have brought into being some ideas and concepts which have been rattling around in my head for a long time. My art therapy experience has played (and continues to play) a major part in releasing my constraints, and silencing my inner critic . . . I now feel I actually deserve the freedom of creative self-expression – it’s not just for the privileged few, it’s for me and for everyone, in whatever form it takes. It’s very exciting to see my ideas as real possibilities, and to actually bring them into existence!" Sue, Leda (Interviewed as part of a feature on Art Therapy and Creative Possibility for national magazine Nature and Health)
Art Therapy has opened up some amazing channels of creativity – the last few months have been amazing. I have brought into being some ideas and concepts which have been rattling around in my head for a long time. My art therapy experience has played (and continues to play) a major part in releasing my constraints, and silencing my inner critic . . . I now feel I actually deserve the freedom of creative self-expression – it’s not just for the privileged few, it’s for me and for everyone, in whatever form it takes. It’s very exciting to see my ideas as real possibilities, and to actually bring them into existence!" Sue, Leda (Interviewed as part of a feature on Art Therapy and Creative Possibility for national magazine Nature and Health)
