FAQs

There is no need at all to be good at drawing things or have any art training to benefit from this approach. We all have the capacity to visualise and imagine, and this comes out in daily activities such as gardening, cooking, dancing, being innovative at work or making something we care about happen. We also all 'imagine' our dreams at night. In art therapy, doing something as simple as creating a collage from photos, choosing and arranging postcard images or natural objects, or crayoning a few marks on paper, can be both moving and validating where something meaningful to the maker has been expressed.

IAP is effective for psychological, emotional and life challenges of all kinds. In comparison with traditional ‘talk therapy’, some people find having the creative process as a focus in the room makes self-exploration safer, more visible, tangible and profound. Art therapy has been shown to be beneficial for those with a wide range of psychological, relationship and life difficulties, and focuses on different issues in targeted ways, for example: Stress and anxiety: Using drawing materials, paint or clay as a way to release stressful thoughts and feelings, drawing or ‘mapping’ areas of holding and tension in the body, so this can then move into the discovery of calming, regulating experiences or creating a friendly soothing object. Such creative moments can be remembered in the body and as more helpful self-talk, and in this way are used to strengthen personalised stress and anxiety regulation strategies in daily life. Depression and low mood: Depression can be linked to harsh self-talk and blocking off difficult underlying feelings and conflicts. Using art materials in a supportive environment can be safe way to uncover and give shape to blocked emotions and longings, and to view these with understanding and compassion. More self-acceptance makes it possible for wants and needs to be acted on in healing and creative ways.

I work with a wide variety of creative methods and will suggest these to suit the needs and preferences of the individual. Methods you may be invited to explore: Doodling - Collage - Visualisation - Dreamwork – Creating with natural objects Painting & Drawing - Symbolic image & object making – Mandalas Creative writing – Role Play and gentle movement Guided Drawing & Sensorimotor trauma informed art therapy* registered technique

AP sessions are normally weekly to be effective, however sometimes fortnightly meetings is appropriate. This can be for a time-limited period (8 - 20 weekly sessions) or ongoing for a year or more depending on individual aims and context. The first step is to contact me by email or text to request a phone call. Once we have had a brief discussion, you can choose to arrange an introductory meeting and see what it would be like to work together. If you decide to go ahead, we will also agree the best framework to support your aims.