Art Therapy
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy incorporates process-based art making into sessions as a way to facilitate self-exploration and understanding. As an Art Therapist, I can guide you in using a variety of art materials and creative exercises to help you express yourself and process your thoughts, feelings and experiences in a new way.
In art therapy sessions, we spend time talking, making art, and reflecting on both the artwork and creative process. I can support you with finding the balance of talking and art-making that feels right for you.
Benefits of Art Therapy
In addition to your other therapeutic goals, art therapy can help with:
Expressing and managing difficult feelings in a safe, containing way
Externalizing and organizing thoughts and emotions
Finding new and creative ways to express yourself
Exploring parts of your experience that are hard to define
Gaining new insights and perspectives
Increasing self-awareness
Problem-solving
Experiencing catharsis
Reframing experiences
Reducing perfectionism and rigidity
Even just the process of making art can be calming and grounding, and has been found to reduce stress levels. The best part? No previous art experience or skill is needed in order to benefit.
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
— Pablo Picasso
What materials do I need to get started?
In our first session together, we can talk about what you already have available that you could use as art supplies in our work together (old magazines? your kids’ arts and crafts? scrapbooking supplies?). I can also provide a short list of art materials that can be helpful to have on hand, such as pencil crayons, crayons, markers, or watercolours. I also encourage all my art therapy clients to have a sketchbook dedicated to our art therapy work so that what you make can be contained in one place, though all of this is of course optional and based on what is affordable and do-able for you!
Ready to get started?
If this approach interests you, reach out for a free 15-minute call to see if we’re a good fit for working together. Have questions first? Check out my FAQ page or contact me.