The artwork offers a concrete non-threatening expression to relate thoughts, feelings, and emotions while also accessing underlying messages and symbols. Regressed and uncomfortable intense or hidden material that may surface can be more gradually accepted and accessed as it is made external and more conscious. When feelings arise, they are experienced in a safely controlled setting without the need for verbalization.
The Art Therapy process provides the opportunity for a sense of control through: mastery of the materials with the development of a sense of trust in the intuitive expression of feelings. Alongside the client, the Art Therapist witnesses the externalization of created images, and these, in turn, can be kept, studied, modified, re-purposed and put or caste aside.
They are more able to express their difficulties, dislikes, and worries through their artwork, exploring, and constructing themes and content symbolically and metaphorically more than through verbal communication.
I offer sensory exploration transitions of expression through different experiences and broaden their practices, capabilities, and interests each time we meet, facilitating more adaptability and flexibility. Initially, clients might be relatively inflexible about exploring new art methods and supplies, but soon there is a newfound willingness to explore and trial new media reflecting their increased capacity for emotional regulation.
As the work is largely self- directed, there is strong growth in self-empowerment and the ability to communicate as their self-worth develops.
I listen attentively to understand and connect to each of my client's individual circumstances. My certification as an Imago Relationship Therapist has given me specialist skills in validation and empathic communication, helping clients feel seen, heard, and respected, forming a deeper emotional connection and therapeutic alliance.
I have worked for the NSW Department of Health and in two of Perth’s Public Hospitals in an Acute Mental Health Unit and at the Children’s Hospital as well as the AIDS Council.
What is Art THerapy?
Making art is a safe and contained way of exploring your life experiences with support.
A way of connecting with your feelings and emotions using different art materials to help you get in touch with your inner world.
At The HeARTwork Centre, we use a range of art processes such as drawing, painting, mark-making, writing, collage, storytelling and sculpting with recycled materials and clay.
The best part about art therapy is that you don’t need to have any experience or artistic ability.
Why are the creative arts used therapeutically?
Art Expression builds self-esteem providing an opportunity for experimenting and pleasure in the formulating process, delivering a vehicle to investigate and explore feared emotions resulting in the increased aptitude to experience and advance the individual's capacity to regulate emotions. It helps when it is hard to communicate things in words, including our thoughts, worries, issues, and feelings. Often our problems are unclear and confusing.
Often, people find it hard to express themselves through words.
Art Therapy helps with this by providing less threatening processes than direct verbal exchange. Art expression provides containment by allowing the communication of strong and negative emotions by exploring and mastering art materials and processes.
The primary goals of therapy frequently work on:
Capacity For Independence
Communication
Self-Worth
Emotional Regulation
For example, in the context of a diagnosis of ASD and difficulties processing information. Often my clients have difficulty sleeping, may engage in self-harming or destructive repetitive behaviours, and have experienced bullying. My clients engage easily in therapy and are often disappointed when the session is coming to an end as they have so much; they want to communicate, create, and explore with me.
I have supported and observed my clients using therapeutic and art-based processes effectively to:
· Learn new skills and strategies for communication and self-expression through the arts
· Communicate and explore the impacts of their mental health and strategies to manage this, including strategies they implement to adjust to independent living
· Learn new skills and strategies for arts-based communication and self-expression (e.g., plasticine, clay, painting, constructing, fibre art, papier mache, impression rubbing, digital animation, music, movement, and drama). All are strengthening their confidence and connection to their sense of self.
· Explore their experiences with, and barriers to, increased social participation through narrative art therapy processes.
· Engage in artmaking independently at home and to strengthen their understanding and regulation of their anxiety and other emotions as they arise. I aim to increase independent creative expression at home, building on the skills and confidence they have achieved within our sessions and to utilise this alongside our sessions, evidencing improvement towards their capacity for self-soothing emotional regulation and independence.
