INDIVIDUAL ART THERAPY

Individual art therapy enables us both to focus entirely on you. We explore what it is, to be, you.
After the first free phone consultation, we usually will arrange to meet for a period of anything between 1 to 4 sessions (depending on your needs), to explore if Art Therapy is right for you at this time in your life.  Please be assured I will always be honest, and advise and/or recommend alternative therapists or suggest other therapies, if I think they may better achieve your goals.  This counts with ending too…I never will stay working with you unnecessarily because I believe art therapy is about empowering you to get on with your life, when you are ready, and how you are ready.

Individual therapy can be helpful for everyone if you want time to be you; to be heard, to be witnessed, to explore and express in the safety of a unique, confidential and skilled therapeutic relationship. However, it might also be useful for you if you feel very restricted in what you can share/say,  you experience significant relationship difficulties, keep repeating the same things/are stuck, or perhaps find it difficult being with others.  You may have had other therapies and feel a need to continue your journey of self-exploration and well-being.  You may have found counselling too broad or not exploratory enough, or too brief. Maybe you found other talking therapies too direct or confusing or too complex or restrictive in its emphasis on talking. Perhaps you just don’t know what you feel or want or how to put it into words. Maybe it is just time. Maybe others around you are worried for you and have suggested you try it. You may simply want to try something new and creative. All of these, and many more, are valid reasons for art psychotherapy.

Individual art therapy is usually for one hour, weekly, and can either be at my studio or at a venue near to you.   It is generally best held outside of your home/work/day service etc, to give you an entirely separate space where you can feel and safely leave behind, whatever arises for you.  However if it is clear that due to your specific situation or health, it will be most beneficial to meet in your school, home or other setting, this can also be arranged, costs and travel permitting. Most art work made in art therapy sessions, remains in private folders/boxes art therapy until we stop working together. It is not shown to anyone until this time and then you may choose to dispose of it or keep it private. I cannot and do not use analyse and interpret your art without you present and part of this process. Artworks meaning can change from moment to moment - that is its beauty, as an agent of change.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE GOOD AT ART. WE ARE NOT LEARNING HOW TO BE GOOD AT ART (THOUGH YOU MIGHT BE/BECOME).

WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO BE ‘BETTER’ AT LIFE. DEVELOPING RESILIENCE. EMPATHY. KINDNESS TO SELF & OTHER. CREATIVITY. PROBLEM-SOLVING. ANXIETY REDUCTION. COPING WITH THE FUTURE. COPING WITH THE PAST. MOOD & HOPE ENHANCEMENT. TRAUMA RESOLUTION**

ASSESSMENT TOWARD A MDT PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR EXPERIENCE, NEEDS AND VIEW OF YOUR WORLD CAN BE OFFERED. DIAGNOSIS CANNOT.