“often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain”

Carl Jung

Art therapy is a form of therapy that involves creative visual making as a form of non-verbal expression.  Art therapy may focus on the process of creative art-making as a way of facilitating change and recovery or it may involve the analysis of expression created through an exchange  between therapist and client. Art therapy is an approach that encourages greater meaning and insight, provides relief from overwhelming emotions, facilitates the resolution of personal conflict and creates a greater sense of well being within the individual.

Anyone can engage in art therapy regardless of their skills as art therapy is not about the end product and more importantly about the process. It is a fantastic tool for those who find talking tricky - especially young children and adolescents as it is through the exploration of symbols and imagery that meaning is made. It is in this way that that the unconscious becomes conscious as art making can often be the gate way to the unconscious mind. 

Art therapists work with a wide variety of disorders. An art therapy session can take place one on one, with couples, families or groups. Often a variety of materials are on offer to choose from allowing the client to explore different mediums that might contribute to the art making process. Interventions or directives are often offered to assist achieving the therapeutic goals and objectives that have been decided upon between therapist and client.