Art Therapy
 

I've been offered the chance to see an art therapist to do art therapy for a few months. I have a vague idea of what is from researching it but not completely sure.

Does anybody have any experiences of it? Was it helpful? Could you maybe tell me a bit more about what actually takes place?

Thanks for any replies...

I often use my art in my therapy, which is slightly different from art therapy.

I personally find it very, um, therapeutic! .... And it helps at those times when one doesn't yet have words for an emotion or experience.

Thank you both =)

Holly that was really helpful, thanks. I'm phoning the guy back tomorrow and will probably ask him some questions too but I'm thinking I might as well try it if it's on offer =)

i have found it so useful - so much more gentle than full on, face-to-face counselling. You have the choice of expressing yourself either verbally or from a selection of art materials. without meaning to, your work (or words) often express deeper meanings which can then be explored. i think art therapy is fairly hard to come by (on the nhs) so i would recommend trying it and just seeing if it's right for you. good luck

If i had the chance to do it, i'd take it. I took art as an extra in college for the theraputic benefit

It's awesome, honestly.
You don't have to have any talent, so many times I've just scribbled.
Best thing ever.

its really good i love mine she's on holiday for the next week now and i miss havign it im actually going really low because of not having it.
It is a very good oppurtunity and you will rarely get it again!
personally i would jump at the chance if they offered me it, as it is very helpful realy
x :) x
Stevie

I would definitely give it a shot.

I do a weekly art therapy group, which is really helpful.
You don't need to be a talented artist at all, it's much less about the aesthetic and much more about the therapeutic process, what it's like to draw, what the drawing means to you, conveying thought/feelings etc through art rather than words.
It's a great way to communicate things that are bigger than words, or that you just can't find the right words for.
Each art therapist is going to have a different approach, like with talk therapy, but the basic principle is the same. I find it really helpful.

Let us know how the conversation with the guy goes, and what you decide :)

I had art therapy.
For me, I painted pictures whilst me & my psychologist talked.
It was very therapeutic & relaxing & I felt more comfortable.

When I was IP I had art therapy once a week in a group setting. I found it a bit difficult sometimes because I'm a perfectionist && I'd often get pissed off with myself if what I did went "wrong," but the art therapist was lovely and reassured me it wasn't about whether the art was "good" or not.

Overall it was a really helpful and positive thing for me.

I'd love to do that (:

Thank you guys so much for your replies, they've really helped me make my decision =)

I didn't get to speak to the guy; it went to an answer machine and I panicked (not really sure why...) so I'm going to try again tomorrow and leave a message.

I did art therapy and it was completely pointless for me. I literally sat and painted and after 6 weeks of it she said "cool, you seem fine, bye".

But it might be different for you, I hope it is. I hope it goes okay :] x