Brisbane Art Therapy Counselling Services
Available in – North Brisbane, South Brisbane, Logan, Gold Coast, Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba
What Is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is an approach involving the creative process to improve mental health and well-being. It uses a range of artistic modes to help individuals express themselves, explore emotions and resolve conflicts.
Art therapy can be beneficial for many issues, including anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma. It is accessible to people of all ages and does not require any artistic talent to participate. The process of creating art can lead to personal insight, stress reduction, and the development of new coping skills.
Art therapy encourages creative expression through drawing, painting, collage, and sculpting. It may work by providing a person with a safe space to express their feelings and allowing them to feel more in control over their life.
Just as a painting or a piece of music can say something in ways that words can’t, art therapy provides individuals facing physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges with new pathways toward understanding and self-expression.
People do not have to be artists or even “good at art” to benefit from art therapy. This form of treatment is more than an art class or just something to keep people occupied. Art therapy uses the power of the arts and different modes of communication to help people open up and engage with their therapy in new ways, which may enhance healing of all kinds.
How Does Art Therapy Work?
Art therapy differs from traditional talk therapy in several ways:
Expression Beyond Words
Art therapy allows individuals to express experiences, feelings and thoughts that may be difficult to articulate with words. It provides a non-verbal mode of communication and expression.
Engagement with Art Materials
Unlike talk therapy, which primarily involves verbal communication, art therapy involves hands-on activities with art materials, encouraging creativity and sensory engagement.
Processing Trauma
For those who have experienced trauma, art therapy offers a way to explore and process feelings, memories, and effects of trauma without the need for verbalisation, which can sometimes be challenging.
Facilitating Self-Discovery
The creative process in art therapy can lead to personal insights and discoveries, as the artwork can reflect the creator’s inner state, which can then be interpreted and understood with the help of a therapist.
How Can Art Therapy Facilitate Healing?
Sometimes, just talking things out isn't enough—art therapy steps in to fill that gap. It's a path to communicate, concentrate, unwind, connect, and narrate your journey creatively. Here are the ways art therapy can support you:
Easing Anxiety: Combatting anxiety is a tough battle for mind and body. Art therapy offers a tranquil retreat to quiet your thoughts and relax your muscles.
Lifting Spirits: It's a powerful avenue for expressing deep-seated emotions that are difficult to verbalise.
Reducing Stress: Engaging in art allows you to pause overwhelming thoughts and focus on the now.
Boosting Self-Esteem: Creating art leads to a sense of pride and strengthens your self-belief.
Finding Yourself: Through art, you can explore and recognize emotions and ideas previously hidden within you.
Managing Frustration: Art therapy provides a constructive way to channel and process feelings of anger, promoting healing instead of harm.
When verbal expression may be a challenge, art therapy provides an inspiring alternative and a valid key to unlocking buried thoughts and emotions. In the process of doing and creating, the mind and body can find new pathways to healing and self-exploration.
Art Therapy Counselling with Stacy
Stacy Nottle is a student member of ANZACATA, the professional body representing creative arts therapists in Australia. She is currently completing her Master’s degree in Mental Health (Art Therapy) through the University of Queensland. She is interested in working with people at all stages of life and believes many people seeking to find meaning and direction in their lives can benefit from art therapy. As a registered teacher with nearly forty years’ experience, Stacy welcomes children and adolescents, but also has a strong interest in working with those who are nearing end of life and are wanting to look back and reflect.
“What sets creative therapies apart, in my case art therapy, is the use of the creative process as a way of tapping into realms where words can’t reach. The more I learn about this holistic, evidence-based allied health, the stronger is my belief about its efficacy. You do not need to have art skills to participate. Sometimes a simple shape or colour can hold significant meaning and help facilitate healing.”