What is Art Therapy?

Art Therapy is a recognised mental health profession that uses the creative process of art-making to support and enhance the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of individuals across the lifespan.

Combining principles from human development, visual arts (including drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media), and the creative process with psychotherapeutic models, Art Therapy offers a unique pathway for expression, healing, and personal growth.

Art Therapy can benefit children, adolescents, adults, older adults, families, and groups. It is effectively used in the treatment of a wide range of issues, including:

• Anxiety, depression, and emotional distress

• Trauma, grief, and loss

• Substance use and other addictive behaviours

• Family and relationship challenges

• Abuse and domestic violence

• Social and emotional difficulties related to illness or disability

• Cognitive, neurological, and physical health conditions

• Psychosocial challenges linked to medical diagnoses

At its core, Art Therapy is founded on the belief that creative expression can help individuals:

• Communicate feelings that may be difficult to put into words

• Process and resolve emotional conflict

• Improve interpersonal and coping skills

• Regulate behaviour and manage stress

• Build self-awareness and self-esteem

• Foster insight and personal transformation

No artistic skill or experience is necessary to participate. Art Therapy sessions are facilitated in a safe, supportive environment where the focus is on the process, not the product.