Art Therapy is a type of psychotherapy where you can use art materials to improve mental health and address emotional difficulties. It is important to differentiate between Art Therapy and an Art Class and to help the participant understand the purpose of the sessions.
There are some ways that you can help with this
Before making a referral
Tell the person you are supporting that you have noticed they are having some difficulties lately, for example; you have noticed they look sad, worried or angry a lot of the time.
Explain to them that therapists are professionals that are trained to help people with these sorts of difficulties, they can help to solve problems and find new ways of coping.
Explain that art therapists are not art teachers, they don’t care if you’re not good at art, they want to help you to be the kind of person you want to be.
Art therapists use all kinds of art materials and processes to help people, the participant may need to tell the art therapist a little bit about the problem so that they can help. It’s ok to talk in art therapy.
Art therapy can be fun, but it can also be challenging because it’s not about avoiding your problems. Art therapists understand that it is often hard to think and talk about things that are upsetting to you and are good at helping people find other ways to express and cope with things that are very painful.
When they are going to therapy please remember that
The Art Therapy room is a confidential space for people to express feelings and address problems, there is no expectation that the participant will make ‘good’ art.
Please be aware that well intended questions such as, “what did you make/do?” Do not honour the clients right to a confidential service. A better question to ask is, “did you find it helpful?”
We ask parents and support people to help us with informed consent by referring to the appointment as therapy. It helps to remind the participant that they can talk to the therapist about anything, and that the therapist is there to help with life’s problems.
Suggesting to participants that they make a specific painting or object in art therapy is inappropriate and undermines the purpose of the therapy. Avoid comments that may confuse the clients as to the purpose of therapy.
