Creative psychotherapy for individuals.

How creative psychotherapy can support you

I feel conflicted about labels because we can lose ourselves and who we are behind them. You are a human being who – for whatever reason – might be feeling low or experiencing a tough time. But while labels can be a hindrance to creativity, I recognise that they can offer a helpful starting point for our work together.

Here are some of the areas where I have witnessed the value of creative psychotherapy:

Creative psychotherapy is also especially useful to people with English as an additional language who may otherwise struggle to express themselves.

The key is that we will work together to explore what those words and symptoms above mean for you and who you are. By sharing your story, in whatever way works for you, there is the hope that you can arrive at a place of greater resilience and self-awareness. And maybe even discover – or rediscover – a love of life.

That said, creative psychotherapy is also as much about getting in touch with our strengths and capabilities. I truly believe that this form of therapy can work for anyone, no matter their health status.

It is all part of the work of being a human.

What does a typical session look like?

The first thing to say is there is no such thing as a typical session of creative psychotherapy, and therein lies the beauty.

As a rough guide, here’s what you can expect from the process and our creative work together.

Our first meeting

In our first meeting, I will invite you into the creative space so that you can get a sense of me and the environment. I will then walk you through the premise of creative psychotherapy and listen to some of the reasons that have brought you along.

I may then invite you to work with some of the creative materials in the room and to make something. The choice will always be yours. Don’t worry, it is never about being an artist or being ‘good’. It’s not important or even necessary to consider yourself artistic; we all have creativity within us.

Towards the end of the session, we can creatively explore what you have made.

During this first session, we will also cover:

• An agreement on the work that is being brought

• An understanding of what you are hoping for

• An explanation about safeguarding and my duty of care as an independent practitioner

• The signing of a contract of work.

What happens to the things I make?

People are often surprised to learn that everything that is created during our sessions remains in the therapeutic space. This is because, by using imagery, we are encouraging the unconscious to come into play, and so you may make something that we can’t immediately make sense of… until a few sessions later when it might suddenly reveal something interesting for us to explore.

The act of creating something can allow us to release emotions, and together we can look at ways for you to do this safely. Different creative materials facilitate in different ways. Pastel chalks blend in a way that watercolours can’t, for example, while pummelling into a solid block of clay will eventually make it pliable and the energy used in the process will have a different meaning to working on the floor to create a collage.

There is no right or wrong way to do this work. Not all the people who come to see me make images. Some bring something with them for us to work on. Some wish to talk. This is all welcomed.

If you prefer to talk, then we can look at the ways in which the patterns of relating between us may be repeating for you ‘out there’ in your other relationships. This may involve noticing body language or exploring sensations.

Perhaps most importantly of all, I am not out to fix or change you. That remains within your power. This kind of creative therapy is not ‘done’ to you. It’s my job to create a welcoming, inclusive and collaborative environment where you can thrive. I do this by making and maintaining a safe space where you can go to places that might otherwise scare you. In doing so, I will also remain present for what comes into the room with you and meet it with curiosity and compassion.

Working together creatively and psychologically, our aim would always be to secure a sense of emotional wellbeing at the core of who you are.

What happens next?

Subsequent one-to-one sessions are usually 1 hour in length and are made up of three parts:

The Check-in

Check-in is your way of arriving. It’s a time to reconnect with the space, with me as a psychotherapist, and with the work we’re looking at together. It’s also a time to feed back and to share:

• Any shifts or changes you may have experienced between sessions

• Anything that may have arisen that may impact the work

• The need for a change of direction.

The Making

Art-making can take many forms and use a wide variety of media. These might include:

• Painting and drawing

• Using clay

• Craft work

• Photographs and collage

• Storytelling

• Creative writing

• Dance and movement

This creative section can be either directive (based around a given theme, or an invitation to share a particular experience, thought, belief or feeling by making use of the materials) or non-directive (where you use the materials more instinctively).

I will watch and witness the making process, and there might be times (with your agreement) when I join in as well.

This is always a time-bound section to allow room for the third and final step: the reflection.

The Reflection

This time is used to bring together the artwork (in whatever form), the maker (you) and the watchful witness (me). 

Often there is a misconception that this means the client makes and the creative psychotherapist analyses, but it doesn’t work like that. Instead, the discussion is centred around thoughts and feelings about the making process and its meaning, which may of course shift over time.