6 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ART PSYCHOTHERAPY
I often get asked what the art bit in art psychotherapy means. It can be a daunting word for so many of us, let alone the word psychotherapy. We often come with preconceived ideas of any new situation, sometimes based on our previous experiences in life. Maybe, from the school art room or the judgement we received in the face of creative endeavours.
Below you will find six misconceptions about access to art psychotherapy services.
In its very simplest form art psychotherapy is psychotherapy with the added tools of creativity, which you always have autonomy over how you choose to use them.
ONE
YOU HAVE TO IDENTIFY AS A CREATIVE
As adults we sometimes loose our way and forget how creative we really are and the learning, answers and expansion creativity (in all it’s forms) can offer us.
Often people do not approach art psychotherapy services because the art bit can feel a bit daunting. And whilst we all have different experiences of creating, in art psychotherapy you do not need any experience to access the service.
Art Psychotherapy works on the principle of process and relationship over skills, ability or whether or not you identify as creative.
The most important part of accessing any therapeutic support is the relationship that is co created between you and your therapist.
TWO
ART PSYCHOTHERAPY IS FOR CHILDREN
‘Every child is an artist the problem is staying an artist when you grow up’ - Picasso.
Creativity and play are often associated with being a child and there is some truth in this. Children often figure all that life gives them through creative expression and play.
When we cross the threshold into adulthood, offering ourselves the same creative expression can feel challenging. It is in adulthood that we also really need creative expression as a tool for supporting us through challenging times, and joyful ones too!
We cannot just think our way out of it all, as much as we may try.
Therefore art psychotherapy holds space for all ages. It is not exclusively for children.
In my private practice I work with adults.
THREE
IT IS THE SAME THING AS MAKING MY OWN ART AND RELEASING MY EMOTIONS
Making and creating your own art for emotional release can be an important part of a self care practice.
It is however, not the same thing as working with an art psychotherapist.
Art psychotherapy is an evidence based practice that used both creative practices and psychotherapy principle, facilitating the process of identifying and processing difficult emotions and experiences with a clinically trained art psychotherapist.
FOUR
THE THERAPIST WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOUR CREATIVE EXPRESSION MEANS
In art psychotherapy the art is not used as a tool for diagnosis or interpretation.
We work together to create space to get curious about the process and product of the art making and your experiences of this.
FIVE
YOU HAVE TO MAKE ART IN EVER SESSION
Despite creativity being the primary mode of communication in art psychotherapy there is not a requirement that art is made in every session.
Sessions are always lead by the client and it is the decision of the individual whether they would like to create or not on any given day.
There may be invitations to access creative processing as this can aid understanding and integration of your experiences and can offer words to experiences that may of not previously had words - such as traumatic memory or preverbal experiences. BUT this is always your choice.
SIX
IT IS AN ART CLASS
Art psychotherapy is not an art class. Art Psychotherapist will not teach you art skills.
They may support you to explore and utilise different materials and the art making process but gaining skills in art is not the purpose of art psychotherapy.
Rather the art materials and art making process offer space to explore, understand and feel.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ART PSYCHOTHERAPY?
DROP ME AN EMAIL
