About Art Therapy
Art therapy derives from traditional models of psychotherapy, emerging in the mid-20th century when psychotherapists and artists recognised that creative expression can provide a route to understanding thoughts and feelings that can be difficult to communicate through words alone. Art therapy uses creative processes to help people explore emotions, deal with challenging experiences, and better understand themselves.
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By simultaneously engaging the body and mind, art therapy is a particularly effective form of psychotherapy for people who enjoy creating, working with their hands, or who find talking therapies challenging, overwhelming, or limiting. Whilst art therapy does not rely on the use of verbal communication, it is often used alongside talking therapy. For those with difficulty with speech or language art therapy is an accessible and inclusive form of therapy. By working on a deeper, embodied level, art therapy can reach beyond the cognitive focus of purely talking-based approaches, supporting meaningful insight, emotional regulation, and lasting therapeutic change.​
Feel.
Emotions are complex and can sometimes feel overwhelming, leaving people stuck in negative cycles or unable to move forward. When difficult feelings build up, they can shape unhelpful thought patterns, influence behaviour, and at times contribute to a gradual decline in mental health through stress, isolation, or unresolved experiences.
Create.
Creative engagement can allow people to give form to internal experiences through hands-on art making and to share feelings that may be hard to express with words alone. Working symbolically and creating transitional objects can provide comfort, distance, and a safe bridge between inner and outer worlds, helping clients feel seen and understood. The creative process may be messy and chaotic for some, or calm and reflective for others.
Heal.
The relationship between client, artwork, and therapist can be incredibly enlightening, offering space for profound processing and healing. The artwork becomes a vessel for emotions and meaning, while the therapist provides containment and support, making space for insight and growth. This reflective space supports deeper self-awareness, helping people process experiences while feeling held within the therapeutic relationship.