What is Art therapy?
Art Therapy has taken shape by incorporating influences of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychoanalytic frameworks of practice and theory. Due to diverse contributions from these fields Art Therapy incorporates a range of theory, tools and possible treatment applications.
As a creative tool of reflection Art draws on an innate desire within ourselves to respond and communicate the experiences of the internal and external world and to provide a sense of meaning to these environments. On a functional level the use of Art Therapy can assist in creating pathways and outcomes to resolution and understanding from illness, trauma and debilitation. The space of creating is a sacred space that can instigate an individual or group to explore conscious ideas of emotion, imagination, unconscious paradigms, and expression. Through undertaking Art Therapy with Wenona you will be taking the steps into a journey of creativity and exploration of self.
What can I expect in a session?
An Art Therapy session is a diverse therapeutic practice tailored to develop and unfold alongside the client. Depending on the needs of the individual presenting for a session, materials and approaches will vary. An Art Therapy session opens the doors using materials and techniques with therapeutic guidance, to discover and communicate with parts of our selves that may be repressed, incommunicable and leading to in-cohesive, non-effective behaviours and actions in our lives.
Art Therapy is not about making pleasing art or being experienced in making Art. The sessions provide the room to connect with creative states to explore the dialogue of self and context. It is recommended clients also begin and keep a journal to assist in developing sessions and creative communication with oneself.
How long does a session go for?
An Art Therapy session will usually run from one to two hours. It is recommended that as part of this practice that multiple sessions be attended to create continuity for the client in addressing and developing self.
| Potential Outcomes -Increased awareness and dialogue with oneself -Development of ability to communicate with nonverbal parts of oneself -Reduction of pain -Development of a practice that can endure throughout one’s life -Working through and beyond conflicting behaviours and emotions -Reduction of tension, anxiety and depression -Deeper connection to self -Release and understanding of Trauma |
Art Therapy for children.
For children of all ages Art Therapy is an outlet and beneficial in many ways.
Children are open to experiences and sensory stimulation from their environments, society and families and are mapping and navigating the world from these experiences in order to develop identity and learn how to exist and function within the world.
Children take experience from their childhoods into adulthood; how they will function, relate, ascribe meaning and purpose, have resilience for what occurs in their internal and external worlds and the types of relationships they will build in the future. As children are heightened in their sensory input and development, they can express differing types of behaviours and attitudes resulted from overstimulation, environmental exposures, breakdowns and damage within familiar structures and exposure to domestic violence and trauma
Disability, developmental differences and inability to regulate can cause some children to be nonverbal and unable to create the skills to define the language needed to express their needs and experiences. Children that can not express themselves and feel understood can alter their behaviours and social responses in order to cope leading to behavioural alterations and dysphoria. Furthermore extremely sensitive children who are intuitive to what they see and feel have no ability to filter the experience between themselves and the input of the surrounding environments and as a result are unable to function and develop in cohesion.
Art Therapy brings to children the space and ability to experiment with materials, colour, texture, play ,story. Sensory expression through and with Art Therapy provides children with pathways to build equilibrium in expressed behaviours and experiences of self. Neurological studies have found Art Therapy assists and transforms the brain states of trauma effected children to reconnect and alter the experiences held neurologically , giving children the ability to develop thrive within themselves and environments.
Wenona Matthews 