What is Art Therapy?

Making art can help you to express yourself and communicate feelings that are hard to put into words. You can look at your art with a specially trained art therapist in a safe and confidential environment, and think about ways of dealing with your difficulties.

Art therapy

Art Therapy can help you to tell stories, express yourself, deal with feelings, increase your confidence and solve problems.

 

You don't have to be "good" at drawing or painting to make art. You can simply express yourself, experiment with different kinds of art, and have fun.

Art Therapy can:

  • increase your self confidence and independence;
  • help you to communicate;
  • give you a new way to express yourself;
  • offer you a safe way to release bottled up emotions like frustration and anger;
  • help you to explore confusing, overwhelming or even frightening thoughts and feelings;
  • provide you with a record of your sessions, shown through the art you have made; and
  • teach you more about yourself.

People will only see your art if you want them to. The art you make could be a private part of your emotional journey, or something you want to share with others.

How does it work?

You will begin your Art Therapy with six sessions. This will give you and your art therapist time to decide whether it is right for you, and what kind of help you need.

If you decide to carry on, you can choose between having individual or group therapy. The individual sessions last for one hour, and the group ones last for an hour and a half. You will be in a safe, comfortable environment with lots of different materials for drawing, painting and sculpture.

Your art therapist will watch and support you. They will encourage you with your work and help you to explore your feelings.

Art Therapy works in blocks of 20 sessions. After every block of 20 sessions, we will talk to you to see whether Art Therapy is working for you and to see if you want to continue.

 

Getting in touch

Adult Intake and Access Team
Phone: 020 8227 2915
Minicom: 020 8227 2462
Email: intaketeam@lbbd.gov.uk

Image of colorful painting