Do I/my child need to be good at art to benefit from art therapy?

No you do not need to be good at art, you are free to create in a judgement free environment. No prior experience or skill in art making is needed for art therapy to be valuable.

Will you be able to teach art skills?

The aim of art therapy is not develop artistic ability and therefore teaching art skills is not part of the process. The individuals are free to use and explore the materials as they like.  

Will you, the art therapist be able to interpret the pictures?

This is often something people can worry about, but my aim as an art therapist isn’t to interpret or tell you from your picture what you’re feeling. Rather my role is to support you/your child in working out what your image means for you, helping you to connect your image with your feelings and thoughts. I might offer ideas, but these are suggestions, that may or may not resonate with your experience. 

How will I know what to talk about or draw/create in the session?

It can feel intimidating to wonder what you might share in an art therapy session, but that is ok. I, the art therapist will be able to support you in settling into the space. You don’t need to have things in mind to draw, sometimes you can just begin, and things will come up to talk about. Other times you may have a strong idea of what you would like to share; both of these are ok!

As a parent, will I be able to know what my child shares in the sessions?

Though as a parent it is important for you to know what they are going through, it is also important for the child that the sessions are confidential, so that they can feel safe to share. In light of this, the session are confidential however every few sessions I/we will share key themes with you. If a child shares anything within the session that is a safeguarding concern, they will know that this would be shared with you.

Can I just have a one off session?

Although there would be some value in having one session, it is recommended that you have a minimum of 6 sessions. This is because an important element of the art therapy process is the relationship with the art therapist, and the development of this can take time. However, there is not a prescribed amount of sessions suggested and so this can be discussed for each individual.

Is art therapy just for children?

Though art therapy has lots of benefits for children, it can be equally beneficial for adults. Our minds and bodies are connected, and the physical process of art making can help us to make connections emotionally that we may not make through simply talking. Art therapy can help you to connect with your inner-child, even if you don’t feel like a ‘creative person’.