"Art therapy is a modality that uses the nonverbal language of art for personal growth, insight, and transformation and is a means of connecting what is inside us - our thoughts, feelings and perceptions - with outer realities and life experiences."
Cathy A Malchiodi
Cathy A Malchiodi
About Arts Therapy
Arts therapy is an evidence based practice that has been well-established and recognised in many countries, such as the UK, the US and Europe, since the 1940’s. It wasn’t until 2007 that the profession gained an entry into the Australian and New Zealand Classification of Occupations, but since then it has grown rapidly along with the increasing, researched evidence of its benefits (ANZACATA). Arts therapists can be found in private practice, hospitals and schools.
An arts therapist provides people with the tools to assist in exploring and expressing their inner world, their thoughts, feelings and experiences, in a safe, supported environment. People often come to art therapy with a specific goal or idea about an aspect of their lives that they want to gain more understanding of, and to find a way of making changes in their life. The art mediums used become tools to assist in the expression, exploration and discovery of the person’s situation, to enable them to make the changes needed.
How can Arts Therapy support you?
There are many reasons why a person might benefit from seeing an art therapist.
People may come to arts therapy to:
In the arts therapy session a selection of art mediums and art making are offered.
These may include, but are not limited to:
Arts therapy is an evidence based practice that has been well-established and recognised in many countries, such as the UK, the US and Europe, since the 1940’s. It wasn’t until 2007 that the profession gained an entry into the Australian and New Zealand Classification of Occupations, but since then it has grown rapidly along with the increasing, researched evidence of its benefits (ANZACATA). Arts therapists can be found in private practice, hospitals and schools.
An arts therapist provides people with the tools to assist in exploring and expressing their inner world, their thoughts, feelings and experiences, in a safe, supported environment. People often come to art therapy with a specific goal or idea about an aspect of their lives that they want to gain more understanding of, and to find a way of making changes in their life. The art mediums used become tools to assist in the expression, exploration and discovery of the person’s situation, to enable them to make the changes needed.
How can Arts Therapy support you?
There are many reasons why a person might benefit from seeing an art therapist.
People may come to arts therapy to:
- express feelings that may be difficult to verbalise
- develop healthy coping skills
- solve a problem
- improve self-esteem and confidence
- develop social skills
- increase communication skills
- identify blocks in emotional expression and personal growth
- explore relationship difficulties
- gain insight and find alternative ways in dealing with depression
- discover new ways of understanding and managing anxiety
- find support in experiencing grief and bereavement
- learn how to live differently with a change in personal circumstances
- seek support in dealing with a health challenge or diagnosis
- find assistance in moving from one stage of life to another … eg children leaving home, retirement
- foster self-awareness and understanding
- build resilience
- improve motor skills and physical coordination
- learn methods of self regulation and self soothing
- develop self-care strategies
In the arts therapy session a selection of art mediums and art making are offered.
These may include, but are not limited to:
- drawing mediums - eg pencils, pens, ink, textas
- paint mediums - eg watercolour, tempera, acrylic, paint pens, art sticks
- oil pastels, soft pastels
- clay - paper clay, air-dry clay, traditional clay
- collage
- construction
- paper-making
- marbling,
- puppetry
- weaving
- movement, music, roleplaying
- writing
- photography
- visualisation