Art therapy is often imagined as a kind of creative playground. The therapist supervises a process that is quite therapeutic in its own way, but it often has little bearing on concrete outcomes. Art therapy, however, can be much more than that. It can alter core beliefs or schemas that often underpin lifelong troublesome ways […]
In this blog article, one of our students explores the difference between art ‘as’ therapy and art ‘in’ therapy.
Building a trusting relationship is at the forefront of any anxiety therapy. This is supported by recent research findings that indicate that perhaps all mental health disorders are impacted greatly by dysfunctional relationships and this seems especially true for anxiety disorders. To put it simply, anxiety work is relationship work; it’s not just exposure work and medication […]
What is the new year going to bring for me, for my family, my job, my love life…? The first days of January seem to have a special trace of magic about them. While it does wear off, they can have a profound impact on our lives. Is it just wishful thinking or putting your […]
After studying theology for 10 years, you would think I know a thing or two about Christmas. To be honest, the more I have learned over the years, the less I feel I actually know. I have way more questions than answers in theology and art therapy alike. I am still full of wonder when […]
As the days stretch on during this pandemic, many people are low on energy and feel emotionally depleted—perhaps even hopeless. While we are fortunate in Australia (in comparison to what some countries have endured), we know it is not over. The fact that things could get worse creates a foreboding sense of uncertainty. Relationships and […]
Family therapy and family art therapy has been around since the 1940s. From the mid-1980s to the present, the field has been marked by a diversity of approaches. While each approach tends to reflect the original schools, they also draw on other theories and methods. There was a strong influence on family therapy and family […]
My mind was spinning after the WhatsApp call with one of my friends from Germany. Through tears in his eyes, he told me his dad was admitted to hospital because he hurt himself in the kitchen. The doctors think he’s getting too old to be alone at home by himself. After assessing him, they also […]
Every art therapist seems to love mandalas and the effect they often have on clients. Mandala is a Sanskrit word from India that means, “disk” or “circle”. It is often expressed as a symbolic pattern usually in a form of a circle divided into four or more separate sections. Creating such a graphic symbol allows […]
The greatest difficulty for any adult seeking to establish a relationship with a young person is the teen’s resistance to authority and lack of trust in the adult world. This stage of adolescent development is normal, but it works against the traditional forms of verbal therapy. Art therapy can be effective for youth as they […]