Art Therapy
“How does that make you feel?”
“What are you thinking now?”
“What are you noticing in your body?”
These are questions often asked in a therapy session, but they are not always easy to answer. Feelings can be hard to put into words. Thoughts can go around in well worn circles that don't lead to new insights. Words can detour around emotions, especially the difficult ones.
Have you ever noticed that you can talk about the most upsetting thing that has ever happened to you without expressing a shred of emotion? You can feel anxious or sad, but not know why?
Deep down, there’s more there that you want to explore, express and understand but saying the same things over and over isn’t getting you there.
If you have ever felt frustrated that talk therapy was, well, too much talking, art therapy might be what you are looking for.
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy incorporates art making into the therapeutic process. It facilitates the expression of images, thoughts, and feelings. By activating your imagination and tapping into the subconscious, it opens up different avenues for discovery, awareness and understanding.
The brain thinks in images. When you listen, read, think and remember you see pictures. Long before we could speak, your brain was recording your experiences in images. Images can speak to us. Images can speak for us. Colors, shapes and symbols can represent meaning. Art therapy is not about making art. It is about using your creative process to use the rich landscape that exists inside of you to expand your therapeutic process.
Art Therapy offers many benefits!
Engaging in art making can be fun, relaxing and mindful. Creativity is one of your greatest resources.
Art therapy can help you:
open new perspectives and promote insight
make meaning of experiences
foster decision making and problem solving
explore identity
identify strengths and build self-esteem
promote emotional regulation and resilience
cultivate self-compassion
release stress and increase well-being
How can Art Therapy help me?
The cerebral cortex of your brain, the hyper-rational part of your mind, uses logic and reason to help you navigate your world. This is great for staying on task, making good decisions, and solving problems, but it can keep you from being able to access emotions, body sensations and inner wisdom. Art Therapy taps into the limbic system, the part of your brain, where creativity and memory are held to open up a rich internal resource that can bring a new dimension to the focus of your therapy.
Art Therapy can treat:
Anxiety and stress
Depression
Trauma
PTSD
Relationship issues (Art Therapy can be used in Couples & Marriage Therapy)
Creative blocks
If you are already engaged in creative endeavors or business, such as writing, acting, music, design, content creation or filmmaking, Art Therapy can be helpful to increase your understanding of your process, work through blocks and self-doubt, and stimulate productivity.
What does an Art Therapy session look like?
Art Therapy can be utilized as either as the primary form of therapy or incorporated into standard talk therapy.
Different materials and techniques, such as collage, drawing, painting and sculpture, can be utilized in a way that meets your needs and preferences. I can either provide guidance, in the form of a directive, or you can use the materials freely to explore whatever you wish. The emphasis is always on the process of the art making, not on what the art looks like. No previous art making experience or skill is necessary.
After the creative process, we will spend some time reflecting on and discussing both the process and what was created. I consider your art as confidential material and will store it safely. Pieces made in session can be a unique record of work done in therapy and it may be beneficial to revisit them at a later date.
Other Mental Health Services at Michele Conklin Therapy
In addition to treatment for trauma, I offer mental health services for depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and creative issues. I specialize in Creative Trauma Resolution using effective PTSD treatments, such as EMDR and Mindfulness and Somatic practices. Finally, I provide couples therapy and marriage counseling in CT.