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creative arts therapyWhat is Creative Arts Therapy? Therapy and creativity overlap in that one of the main aims of therapy is to awaken one’s creative life force. Creative Arts Therapy incorporates the arts in counselling in a process which uses the created image as a foundation for self-exploration and understanding. No previous experience of art is required as it is not about the aesthetics of the final product but about self-expression and self-exploration. Creative arts therapy differs from ‘art therapy’ in that its main aim is to integrate the use of the arts in counselling. It is therefore not regulated by the Health Professions Council (HPC). How can Creative Arts Therapy help? "We express inner-feelings by creating outer forms" - Natalie Rogers Creativity connects us to our aliveness and life force; this makes us free our energy, which heightens our awareness. This experience often connects us with the higher self where we experience unity within ourselves and with others. Finally, this potentially leads us to bring back those qualities into our daily lives and adopt a renewed perspective when dealing with difficult life issues. The aim is to facilitate the creative process in a safe and supportive environment enabling the client to explore issues which lie beyond the reach of words. Creating an art form which comes from a place of emotional depth can bring the client in touch with and integrate different parts of the self. Adopting a humanistic approach to Creative Arts Therapy means that client and therapist explore the created image together. Materials used in a Creative Arts session include paints and pastels, collage and clay. |
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