What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy offers opportunities to explore personal problems and potentials through non-verbal creative work. Art therapy is a unique combination of the fields of art, psychology and therapy.
"Mythological Creatures"


"Breaking through the misty path"

Art therapy uses the creative process as the primary tool for growth. Creating art allows a much more direct access than words.
   
In art therapy one can express non-verbally what may be difficult to express verbally, and the art therapist provides the therapeutic environment to grow from that expression. The making of art, by it’s very nature, is healing; personal problems to personal potential can be explored through the structure of art therapy.

Art therapy provides a safe space to develop personal creativity and to foster the benefits gained from this process:

* development of self-esteem
* restoration of a sense of identity
* increasing insight and self-awareness
* increasing spontaneity
* improving interpersonal skills
* experiencing a sense of achievement
* fostering personal integration
* working towards lasting change
"Awakening"



Art therapy has been in development for over 50 years. In the UK, Adrian Hill and Edward Adamson pioneered this work in hospitals with soldiers recovering from the Second World War. Since then art therapy has been used clinically in many areas e.g. mental health, learning difficulties, education, prisons, sexual abuse, eating disorders, with children and adults.

Today, art therapy is not only an effective therapy for emotional difficulties but it is also something people are turning to for personal and creative development. Recently it has been attracting members of the general public who simply want to have a pleasurable and insightful experience. You don’t have to have psychological problems to benefit from art therapy. It is life enhancing for people of all ages.

Who can benefit?

Art therapy is suitable for a wide range of people.
It can be structured on a one-to-one basis or as part of a group experience.



"A tulip bulb is planted deep in the earth waiting to emerge in the Spring."

"The bulbs have emerged from the fire below"