What is Art Therapy?

• Art therapy is a form of facilitated creative expression in which the client uses art materials and the art making process as a way of communicating their thoughts, feelings and experiences
• It differs from other therapies in that it employs various art media; paint, clay, collage, etc... to facilitate the clients' expression and awareness of areas of their experience beyond the reach of words alone
• It provides an alternative way of expression for individuals who have difficulty using words to express themselves
• Expression through art can provide the young person with a safe distance from painful or confusing feelings which the child might not have words for

What will happen in the Art Therapy session?

• The Art Therapy session will take place on an individual basis and last for 45 minutes, usually once a week
• Art therapy sessions take place in the Carrigaline Family Support Centre
• There are a range of art materials in the room, paint, coloring pencils, crayons, pastels, chalk, collage material, etc.  The young person  is encouraged to explore and experiment with the art materials.  They might have an image that they would like to make, or the psychotherapist might give them a task to work on
• The art psychotherapist will never interpret images produced by the child in art therapy.  The child is considered the expert on his or her own image and art therapy involves a collaborative process of working with the child to discover what their artwork means to them
• The art psychotherapist's main focus is to provide a safe space where young people can explore their issues and develop an emotional language

 
Who is Art psychotherapy Therapy suitable?

• Art psychotherapists work with young people for various reasons.  Young people  have usually been identified by parents, doctors, community health workers or teachers, as having difficulty coping in the school or in  the home environment and often present as having emotional or behavioral difficulties
• Parental consent is required as art therapy is a form of psychotherapy
• The art psychotherapist will meet / contact the parents or guardians before beginning work with the young person  and after a period of time to review and feedback on the young person, while maintaining confidentiality for the client

 
 
 
For a referral, please contact the Centre on 021 491 9299
 
Art Therapy can be arranged for up to 12 sessions, though less is common
 
A €35 fee per session applies, subsidies are available in some circumstances