Do I have to be an artist to do art therapy?​

Absolutely not! Anybody can benefit from art therapy. Art therapy is different than fine art, instead of the focus being on the end result-the focus is on the process. If you don't have the ability to make marks or build with your hands, your art therapist can use a third hand approach. Where they create with your guidance. 

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Do I have to be familiar with art supplies?

Nope! That's what your art therapist is for. They can teach you about the supplies and how to use them. We even go out and get special supplies based on your needs. 

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Why would I see an art therapist?

Anyone can see an art therapist. Creating art during session offers something else to focus on in the room, in what can be an intimidating space to be in. It can be hard to express how we are feeling, let alone when its all about us, the art offers as a gentle way that could make it easier to talk about how your are feeling. The amazing thing about art, is that we dont even have to know what we are making in order to process the artwork. Meaning we can trust that the art we make holds what we need it to hold at that time.

When we create art about our feelings we are seeing our inner world in a completly different perspective than just our thoughts. This gives us the opportunity to see things in different ways and unveil whatever needs to be brought up.

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What does an individual art session look like?

That depends on what you need that day. You are in control of what happens, sometimes people will want to do art everytime, sometimes they just want to do art without talking, sometimes people will create while talking or wait to process their art. There is no wrong way to be. I like to start with an art check in -something to ground yourself in the moment. You can choose from a directive, or spontaneos art making. A choose your own adventure if you will. 

The art made in session could be a suggested directive from an art therapist where the goal is to focus on a specific need of the client or could be spontaneous art making. Spontaneous art making has no direction and allows the client to create on a subconscious level.  Both hold many benefits. With a directive, the client has the opportunity to work on something specific that they are struggling with, with the goal of processing those feelings and working towards new perspectives that will foster change in a person’s life. Whereas spontaneous art-making can allow the client to bring up situations, issues, needs, and goals that they may have not been aware of before processing their artwork.

With the help of an art therapist, the client can talk through their art-making process and discover new things about themselves. Art can also allow us to see what is going on in our lives from a different perspective. Creating imagery in conjunction with speaking to what is going on in our lives, can allow us to see our internal struggles in a visual form. Allowing us to see them in a different light. 

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What makes art therapy different from an art class? provide reflections

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