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Complementary Therapies |
Art TherapyArt therapy uses different art materials, such as, paints, crayons, pencils, pastels etc for self-expression and reflection. The art therapist will ask you why you have chosen art therapy, discussing your issues and concerns you have brought. You do not have to be good at art or have had experience. Art making is used as a form of expressing your thoughts and feelings in the company of a trained therapist. Therefore it is extremely important that you feel at ease with the therapist, if you don't you should find another one. You will attend a number of sessions where the aim is that progress will be made involving your personal growth and change. You and the therapist will try to understand the art process and the product produced. It can be a great way of letting out your emotions and thoughts. You will have the opportunity to see this through the art work and it can sometimes be useful to look back at where you started from to help you realise how far you may have come. During a session the art therapist may ask you how something specific makes you feel and to draw this. The art therapist is there to facilitate your experience. Art therapy may unlock suppressed emotions and thoughts, therefore, you should expect your time in art therapy to involve a roller coaster of emotions. When thoughts and feeling do rise to the surface this then allows you to acknowledge them and move on. Sometimes it is not possible to change situations and acceptance plays a big part of self healing. Art therapy can be useful for a number of problems, involving, physical, emotional and psychological disorders. It is available to everyone. It is especially beneficial if you find it hard to verbalise your thoughts and feelings. It is confidential and the therapist should be non-judgemental. The professional orgainsation for art therapists in the UK
is, 'The British Association of Art Therapists, (BAAT)' Here
you can obtain their comprehensive directory of qualified art
therapists who work within the UK. They do, however note that
art therapists should also be registered with the Health Professions
Council. |