Art Therapy - should I try it?

[quautia]

I've been given the choice of trying Art Therapy.

Its the only thing available on the NHS, so it is my only option.

However, I'm not artistic in the slightest. The Art Woman said it'd help me communicate, but I think/communicate in words, not in abstract arty stuff. The thought of having to create something terrifies me. I disliked Art at school.

The only reason I'm considering it is because its all they can offer me.

Its not definite, I'd have 1-2 sessions with the art woman, and then the group would start if she could find enough people.

[Undomiel]

Umm... I'm not sure...If you don't think creatively at all and find the thought of expressing yourself through art stressful as opposed to helpful I don't think it's likely you'll get much benefit from it. I am 'creatively minded' and I had art therapy for a while but I found it really stressful...having someone look at what I'd drawn and talk to me about it..I could hardly put anything on paper! But then that could be a personal thing or I wasn't at a place where it could help me...

It's really bad that that's all they have to offer you! They must know art therapy isn't for everyone...

Having said all that there'd be no harm trying! If you're not creative it might actually make it more beneficial 'cause you can just get stuck right in there and never mind what it looks like! I think that's the key... :)

Sorry not much help...hope whatever you decide works out well anyway hun.. xx

[Stellata]

I have a trusting and long term relationship with my psychotherapist, and I share my therapeutic art, that I've freely created through my own recovery needs, with her. [And I never saw myself as artistic, but I am finding out that I am...!]
But that's way different to being in a room full of people and showing someone you've never met before, which is what you're faced with.
However it is the only support option available on the NHS.
You've got a dilemma there.

I'd give it a try. Who knows how it'll be.
Remember it's not an art class.
Some of my most therapeutic work has been very messy finger painting! [and I went to see the psychiatrist with red paint still on my hands cos I couldn't get it off! He didn't notice though!]

[one_step_closer]

I'd say that it's definitely worth a try, you never know, you might actually be creative and find it helpful. If you find that it isn't helping then you can always stop.

[espoir]

Art therapy isnt realy about art its more about expressing yourself.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE ARTISTIC FOR IT!!!!!
I had it in hospital both 1:1 and group and found it realy helped me, even more thean cbt.
The things i did ranged from litheraly throwing paint on to pices of paper =D to creating playdo spice girls.
Sometimes its not focusing on what your making but more talking while you work as its easier to talk to someone while your doing something opposed to sitting still in a room.
Id give it a go, if you find its not for you then you can stop but you might actually find it helps!!
XXXXXXX

[whirlpools]

i agree ^ give it a try. art therapy was a big thing in the therapeutic community i was in, and there was loads of residents who'd come in, take one look at the art room and go "urgh, it's like school". and they'd be convinced that they'd get nothing out of it because they "weren't creative" and they "couldn't draw". but actually some of them got loads out of it and it was their favourite group!

funnily enough, i really like art and do it at college, and i struggled quite a lot with art therapy. i mean, i loved the art-making time, but when it came to talking about my work i'd just be completely blank, like "uh... idk". sometimes art therapy works better for people who don't have much of an art background.

xxx

[small light]

I am in art therapy with a small group and find it really helpful. Some weeks I just sit and scribble (so does the therapist! She joins in too) and others I may have an on-going piece I work on.

It isn't about making art, but having a place to just go and do whatever for an hour or two. I can talk, or I can not talk. I can let out aggression, or I can doodle butterflies in chalk. It's definitely worth a try

xxfreddiexx

[cest.la.vie]

I agree, it's definitely worth a try. I see an art therapist, and I'm not creative at all but I have found it helpful, and it's not really about the art. She said that it doesn't matter how good the drawing/painting/whatever is - you can even draw stick figures - it's more about the meaning of it/emotions behind it.
I found it surprisingly hard - it was mainly up to me what I drew, although sometimes she gave me a theme, and it was sometimes difficult to think of something - and talking about it was quite hard, but I found it easier to talk about stuff than in normal therapy, because you have something to work from, like a starting point for the discussion. And despite having sat through endless hours of therapy before, it made me think of things I hadn't thought about before.
And in a way, regardless of the art or the discussion, sitting down for an hour and creating something was really relaxing, and strangely improved my mood.
Sorry if that didn't make much sense, but basically I personally found it helpful and I think it's definitely worth a shot - you have nothing to loose.
(However, it's awful that the only thing they can offer you is one type of therapy. My advise would be to write to your local MP - if your CMHT get a letter from someone like that, they have to act on it. If you keep pushing for better care, they'll find the funding and resources from somewhere.)

Good luck, I hope you find it helpful xxx

[XxLostxX]

I saw an art therapist when i was in hospital , im not creative at all and for the first few sessions i just scribbled , but when you build a relationship with the therapist it helps.

its bad that thats all they have to offer...

but id give it a shot youve got nothing to lose

good luck
xx