Art Therapy

I believe that art therapy helps individuals to access their strengths in order to safely explore current problems and future directions. I use art therapy as part of the assessment and treatment process, creating interventions that address the goals in your treatment plan. Most importantly, as an art therapist I believe that the creative process improves emotional well-being, and promotes health and healing.

People are sometimes unsure what to expect of art therapy versus "regular" therapy, and wonder what it looks like. In each session a variety of materials is offered. I have a range of media available for drawing, sculpting, painting, collage, and fabric art, and my training gives me an understanding of what media would be therapeutic and appropriate in regards to one's issues and goals. The uniqueness of each person and what they are entering therapy for guides the art making. Often, I provide a directive - meaning a specific theme, use of a particular material, or type of art making that I feel could be helpful. Other times, the client creates something they have envisioned or that naturally comes out of the process of using materials. Sometimes we talk throughout the entire session, and sometimes a period of quiet art making is preferred and is then followed by finding meaning in the art. The process of the art making, not the final product, is the focus and the power of art therapy.

In my practice, art making is used for:

  • relaxation and stress reduction
  • making visual representations of future goals
  • creating imagery for healing
  • safely exploring feelings, conflicts, and trauma
  • gaining deeper insight into self and relationships
  • building confidence through risk taking in art making
  • telling one's story or facilitating verbal processing of a trauma narrative
  • uncovering deeper emotions, developing new insights