Art Therapy - Adults

An option I offer for adults in therapy is the use of Art Therapy, either for short periods within the therapy process, or as an ongoing tool. You might be thinking, “I can’t draw, I couldn’t do that!” or “drawing is for kids.” I have often heard “but I don’t know how to draw!!”  While children are at home with drawing, and being creative with their hands using different materials, adults often feel constrained and afraid to try to do something, which they may not consider to be “art”.

Surprisingly, for adults, using art materials to help in the process of self-discovery, can be both fun, and extremely productive. The point of Art Therapy is pure expression, not the artistic quality or merit of the creation.  What a person puts down on paper, or makes with clay, or any other material, is honest and unique to their feelings at the time. Even if you don’t know why you made what you did, or even if you think it is meaningless or “ugly” (not artistic), it is a valuable tool for the development of dialog with me, about yourself. Even a pencil can be a tool of discovery.

Often people have bottled up their feelings for so long, and so skillfully, that accessing them with words is difficult and frustrating.  Creating images on paper can free up the process of self-expression in a beautifully simple way. Images just come out, without all the checks and restraints, which we place on our speech.

Making art can easily jump past stuck points, and states of confusion, to shed a light on feelings, which are not easy to access. When these areas are aired out, you can progress in life more freely.  We can learn about you more quickly and effectively.  I am very supportive to the exploration and am truly excited about anything a person makes!

Art Therapy can benefit any adult who is willing to try the process, not only those who are artistically inclined.  Art is simply another way to communicate, and Art Therapy blends creativity with conversation, making therapy a true adventure of the spirit.