about art therapy
art therapy is a form of psychotherapy anchored in the creative process.
Have you noticed that you tend to think in pictures? Or do you find that there are just certain things within that you can't quite articulate into words? Art therapy provides a way for us to explore and externalise those thoughts, emotions, and memories in a gentle and non-verbal way.
A unique cross between art and psychology, art therapy is a mental health counselling specialty that integrates the creative process of art-making as the primary source for self-reflection, self-expression, and self-discovery. Our creativity and imagination are pretty powerful things; they often allow for parts of our subconscious to surface.
My practice here is non-judgmental, low-pressure, and client-centred. I like to combine elements of psychodynamic talk therapy, psychosomatic techniques, mindfulness/grounding, and visualisation processes.
a typical session looks like:
check-in
we start with a conversational check-in. i ask you about your day, your week, how you've been feeling in your body recently. i may ask you what you need today. if certain concerns, stresses, or joys have been coming up for you, we explore those together here.
creative process
what we express during check-in often guides us naturally into a creative process. i invite you to use the materials you are drawn to, to respond to your thoughts, or create what you need. in some sessions i may give a more structured directive (an example could be, 'what does this emotion feel like and look like in your mind?'.
i am there with you through this process.
debrief
when your creative process feels complete, we take some time to reflect on your experience and witness what emerged for you. maybe it felt inspiring, uncomfortable, or boring today - it is all okay.
together, we find a way to bring that into the rest of your day and the rest of your week.
Frequently Asked Questions:
can art therapy help me?
art therapy can help to address a range of common concerns and goals. different art therapists will have different specialisations.
at y(our) piece, i help clients to:
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relieve stress and anxiety
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develop self-awareness
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heal trauma
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come into their creative voice
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feel comfortable in their body
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build connection between the mind and body
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learn emotional regulation tools
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understand dreams
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increase energy and flow in their life
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feel confident in their ideation
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improve developmental cognitive and emotional skills
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identify their values
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discover their purpose and aspirations
what materials do i need?
you will need to provide your own materials for virtual sessions - but don't worry, this doesn't need to be fancy: paper, pen/pencils, any other art supplies you have on hand. sometimes we work with everyday household items and natural materials. if there is ever an object, photo, or idea you want to work with, please bring that in. sky's the limit!
at my studio in Hong Kong, i provide a range of art materials ranging from pastels, acrylic, watercolour, to air-dry sculpture. if there is ever something you want to explore that i don't have, i'll try my best to get it for you.
do i need art experience?
no!
there is no right or wrong, good or bad in the art we do here. we all have a propensity for creativity, and art therapy is a safe, non-judgmental space for you to play and express yourself.
what can i expect to feel?
this really depends on the clients, their history and intention coming into this work, and the duration of our time together.
after the first few sessions, you can expect to feel more in tune with your mind-body, more attentive to your sense of creativity and to your senses. it's possible to for memories, thoughts, and trauma to emerge during your session, and for this to feel challenging and unfamiliar, especially if you are new to therapy and healing work.
after your first session and between sessions, i always encourage you to take some quiet time to reflect and integrate what comes up.
with regular sessions, you will learn new ways to regulate, hold, contain, and express yourself. many of my clients have reported that this feels gently freeing and liberating.
how many sessions should i do?
i always recommend starting with 3 sessions, for you to see or feel any effects on your well-being and mental health.
ultimately, doing the inner work is a lifelong journey; the healing and transformation really comes when you consistently show up for yourself, you have the time to develop trust in me as your therapist, and you really commit to the process.
so while you can explore art therapy with me as single sessions, i offer three packages for different levels of commitment, to suit you and your needs at this time.
you can find more information on packages and pricing here.
how does this differ from talk therapy?
there are many types of talk therapy, but in general, the most popular talk therapies such as Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical-Behavioural Therapy (DBT) focus on recreating narratives, problem-solving, goal-setting, and learning coping strategies.
the practice of art therapy can also vary depending on the therapist you see; my practice here integrates some of the psychodynamic principles of CBT and DBT, with a large component of verbal conversation; but i also work psychosomatically (with the body), in tandem with process-oriented art therapy.
with that said, the most important difference here is really the language that you use to communicate in expressing and understanding your thoughts and emotions. talk therapy is verbal; it is linear and cognitive, it engages the left brain. in art therapy we use art as an additional language, which engage the right brain, and addresses trauma and emotions from a more gentle, bottom-up framework.
