Q: I have never been good at art, how will I ever be able to do art therapy?

A: Making art is not about how good your art it is, but it is about being creative in a safe space where your creative processes can help to express thoughts and feelings which are sometimes to difficult to access through words alone. In being creative you can experience healing in a wonderful new way.

Q: How can making art help me, when my life is in such a mess?

A: Remember, art therapy is a mental health profession that combines your creative processes with different models of counselling and psychotherapy in a way that will enhance your emotional, physical and mental health.

Q: How can relationships be helped by doing art therapy?

A: When partners can be creative and work together on issues where words have brought them nowhere in the past, they now can discover new realities and new possibilities to deal with these problems.

Q:Do I need to be good at art to do art therapy?

A: Not in the least!

Q: But isn’t art therapy meant specifically for children?

A : Art therapy is for everybody and for every age

Q: Will you tell me what is going on in my head if you look at my art?

A: No I don’t know what goes on in your head, but you will soon discover your own story, once you engage with art

Q:What if the colour that I like means that I have done something bad?

A: There is no good or bad colour, there are only colours.

Q: Do you only paint in art therapy?

A: Painting is only one art medium, you can use any art form or medium to express yourself.

Q:What is the difference between art and art therapy?

A: Yes, there is a vast difference between art making and art therapy.

Most people can testify of the therapeutic benefits of being involved with art. These art expressions can vary. It can be expressive art like dancing, singing, music, or visual arts, which includes painting, photography, sculpting, etc. Or word art like writing and journaling. These are all expressions of art and if applied when you feel down, it could have a positive effect on a person’s mood. But, this is not art therapy.

Art therapists are trained at a post-graduate level and adhere to a very specific set of code of Ethics and Practices for Art Therapists. They are specifically trained to combine the principles and practices of the complete art making process, including the different art materials and the art space, with psychotherapy to facilitate creative expression. Trained art therapists have developed a deep and broad knowledge of the delicate dance between art and psychotherapy.

Q:I have never heard about art therapy, is it for normal people?

A: It is for all people who really want to use art expressions to work towards emotional, mental and physical health and well-being.