Art therapy

The most challenging experiences in your life didn’t simply happen in a conversation or in an exchange of words. They involved all of your senses; your vision, your smell, ambient noise, and intense physical sensations which accompanied your distress. 

This means that we have to use all senses to move beyond the verbal part of the brain, and art materials are a beautiful and gentle way to begin the healing process.

Using them to access our greatest struggles can allow us to form a better understanding of ourselves while building new experiences and more effective patterns of behavior.

Do you have to be good at art? Absolutely not. In fact, some of the most powerful experiences I’ve had with art therapy are with individuals who do not have prior experience or interest.

We won't be working together to create a beautiful image or a skilled painting, instead, we will be using art materials as a means of expression and a tool to better understand ourselves.

How it works:

• In our therapy session, I'll supply all the materials you need including paper, paint, oil pastels, colored pencils, ink and collage.
  

• We will be using art materials to help you identify challenges and explore solutions in a meaningful visual format and experience.
  

• By tapping into a part of yourself that isn't limited to words, you can access an intrinsic monologue and inner knowledge that can be hard to uncover through language alone.

The imagery you make can take almost any form, in any medium. And the experience allows you to have a more clear understanding of your healing. 

WHAT IS ART THERAPY?

Art therapy is a specialized type of therapy that adds creative expression to the therapeutic process. It is is guided by an experienced art therapist, like me, but I'm not here to make interpretations or tell you what your artwork means.  Everyone is different, so no two people are going to experience art therapy in the exact same way. Sometimes using words just isn’t enough. Creating imagery can help you express your inner voice and clarify your intuition. By tapping into a part of yourself that isn't limited to words, you can access an intrinsic monologue and inner knowledge that can be hard to uncover through language alone. The imagery you make can take almost any form, in any medium. I'll supply all the materials you need including paper, paint, oil pastels, colored pencils, ink and collage. There's no right or wrong way to do this. Some people will find that they would like to speak while making art, and others will prefer to work quietly and discuss their process afterwards. If you don't want to jump right into making art during our sessions, we can start off with talk therapy and slowly begin to add elements of art therapy into the process if or when you would like. As a skilled listener and observer I can help you clarify your issues, advance your goals, and explore your feelings through both verbal and non-verbal means.

WHO benefits from art therapy?

Art therapy can be a positive experience for almost anyone...even if you've never picked up a paintbrush!  The creative process can be especially helpful when you're processing any sort of difficult experience that might be tough to put into words. It is common for all of us to be hesitant or unable to find words to label our experience. We can use art materials to bypass your conscious mind and help you create lasting change. If you feel like your brain is becoming overwhelmed as it tries to sort through a particular issue, the creative process can be a soothing influence that encourages you to you articulate and address that issue. The process and the resulting artwork can help you resolve conflicts, manage problematic behaviors, reduce negative stress, reduce anxiety, increase self-esteem, and achieve personal insight. If any element of that resonates with you, then you might benefit from art therapy. I've worked with individuals, couples, families, and groups.