Person Centred Creative Arts ‘in’ Therapy

…our approach

A person centred pluralistic ethos

Our approach based on understanding that creativity is crucial. It promotes empathy, non-directivity, and self expression, self-understanding and of course creativity. It can be used with adults, children, couples, and groups.

Person-centred creative arts therapy models were first developed around 50 years ago, and are an effective, powerful and a deeply transformative therapeutic approach. Our pluralistic perspective also places the client at the heart of therapy, and our approach draws on a range of concepts to collaboratively work with clients to support the therapeutic creative process.

art ‘as’ therapy

At one level creating art can be incredibly therapeutic and healing in itself, particularly when there is no judgement or assessment. Research shows that engaging in art can improve mental and even physical health.

art ‘in’ therapy

But when art is integrated into a professional therapeutic relationship that is empathic and free from judgement it becomes art ‘in’ therapy. Creative arts includes drawing and painting, but also movement, play, poetry, digital media - in fact any expressive media at all!

Art is seen as an externalised symbolisation of a clients inner world, and the focus of our approach is on understanding the symbolic meaning of the art product, as well as the art making process. Working with art in this way engages with unconscious processes, and can promote a much deeper level of exploration and psychological healing. 

You can watch a beautiful illustration of our approach in the video below