Art Therapy

ArtTherapistTrainee · 11-03-2008, 11:13 PM

Hello Everyone,

I'm 24 years old. I started to self harm when I was about 13/14 years old and I self harmed for many years. This consisted of burning and cutting myself. My self harm led to a slight eating disorder as when my family started to check my body for scars I started to make my self sick and for about a year I fought bulimia. I am very proud to say that I have no self harmed in any way for three years now. On my 21st birthday I decided it was time to turn my life around. I know that is easier said than done and it has been very hard work. I still have my low times and sometimes I still feel the urge to cut or to make myself sick but I have learnt to control this. I am now getting my life on track and I am training to be an ART THERAPIST so that I can help others who have suffered like myself.

Art really helped me to stop harming myself. Now when ever I get those feelings I paint or I make an image. I find it releases the tensions, the anger the hurt the worry and the pain.

As a trainee art therapist I am researching how I can use art therapy to help people who self harm and I would love to hear from people who have had art therapy or have ever used art to help them try to overcome self harm. I would also be interested to hear from anyone who has any opinions on art or art therapy whether they be positive or negative. Any information regarding this would really help me to design a model of art therapy which would specifically be aimed at helping those who self harm explore through artwork and images why they self harm and perhaps help to develop ways of helping people to understand why they self harm and think of other ways of coping.

I think I have wrote too much here, sorry!!
If anyone does want to talk at all about anything (not just art therapy) please mail me and I will be happy to listen.

Nice to meet you all. From xx Pxx

Tig · 11-03-2008, 11:18 PM

Hey

I find art very useful. When I was in hospital a few weeks ago there was a trainee art therapist that came in and did a group. It was really good I found and helped to express different things and also we all communicated in a group. I didn't discuss my 'picture' because I didn't feel comfortable within a group setting but I can see how beneficial it would be,

x

Kangaroo · 11-03-2008, 11:52 PM

i do art therapy and would be happy to talk a bit about it of you email or pm me

Stellata · 12-03-2008, 07:26 PM

I use my art as part of my therapy, and my psychodynamic/analytic therapist is very open to exploring my work with me. I find it really helps as well.

Popple · 12-03-2008, 07:38 PM

I used to do art therapy but since I left the unit they aren't willing to pay for me to have art therapy and think I'm fine with the help I have
but I loved it prob cause art is just who I am. Tis my life.

I am also thinking about training to be an art therapist that or an art teacher so yeah
I don't know what else to write so I'll shut up now.

much love
katy
xx

Queer Fringe · 12-03-2008, 07:48 PM

Hey, we've already spoken :-P
xx

dark_light · 13-03-2008, 10:20 PM

I'm doing art therapy, i didn't think it could really help but its really good actually although i do find it hard discussing my work with the group. I'd be happy to discuss it with you if you like. My therapist is going to give us all pictures of our work aswell if that would be useful?
Jo x

ArtTherapistTrainee · 14-03-2008, 01:00 AM

Hi thanks everyone for your info. its great and really helpful. I really appreciate it. Art helped me loads and i'd probably still be harming now if it wasn't for art and my dream to be an art therapist. so yeah, thanks for replying to me and sharing your experiences xPx

nikki1922 · 14-03-2008, 01:16 AM

I found out i loved art through my depression. While I was in hospital we did alot of art therpies and I did one art therpy with a art therpist and I loved it. I find it helps me cope with my bad days, When My days are dark and cold I try to paint somehting happy and bright. I really have to say art has turned my life around Its opened my eyes to a knew meaning, It relaxs me and its actually something I can do. !

cest.la.vie · 14-03-2008, 01:34 AM

Sorry to ramble, but I heard about Art Therapy a while ago, and it seems like such a good idea.
I was just wondering, do you have to be referred to do it, or can you somehow arrange it yourself?
(The CAMHS team mentioned it a while ago, but they're rubbish and never sorted it out :( )

ArtTherapistTrainee · 14-03-2008, 03:21 PM

Hi there

You don't have to be referred to Art therapy but it does help as you have to pay for it otherwise. I'm surprised CAMHS didn't refer you cos that would be the best way for you to do it really they do sound a bit useless. I start my work as a trainee art therapist with CAMHS next week but I am located in West Yorkshire or else I would have tried to help you get in touch with a therapist.

xPx

Evee · 21-04-2008, 10:53 PM

O my how funny I am actually doing research on Art Therapy but I am having the hardest time trying to find a hospital that has that career. I am very interested in Art Therapy. Do you think I can ask you some question? Because I am working on my senior exit and I am having a very hard time finding some stuff out THANKS!

EVee