Art Therapy supports the deep exploration of issues and feelings that have become problematic in our lives. The safe space of the therapy room combines with the strength of a trusted therapeutic relationship, providing an effective way of working together to find understanding and ways forward. Together you learn to regulate your emotions and to feel fully supported within the change process, that is the essential part of therapy.
The thing that makes Art Therapy different from talking therapies is that it is classed as non- verbal intervention, working with different regions of the brain. Talking happens but the creative process stems from the lower non verbal regions of the brain. I describe it as art holding the hand of early life traumas and slowly taking that journey together connecting emotions to bodily sensations and emotion's, then finely to the talking region of the brain that is then able to tell the story. The therapeutic relationship with the therapist, being with someone who understands and is attuned to your needs and using the art materials, being creative helps to explore your story. It can be messy at times but using art materials in this way can help us understand why we feel or behave as we do. It is as if the art that we create speaks for us and encourages us to begin the journey of understanding ourselves, so our futures can feel a more positive prospect.
Sometime our words feel as if they are lost; that can describe events that have hurt us, or if we lose someone that was close to us, or we feel no one understands us and we can’t find the words to tell others what is going on. I like to describe the Art Therapist as the Ninja Warrior of lost words. Art therapists are strong enough to go with us into the darkness that has been scaring us so much. They walk at our side till we feel safe, seen and heard. Art therapist can become your advocate and can also help others to understand how to make the changes around you so you can flourish.