PAVarttherapy@outlook.com / 250-735-8035 / Location: 5062 Angus Street (Port Alberni, BC)
Providing art therapy services to support people through life's peaks and valleys
Art Therapy
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Art therapy combines psychotherapy and the therapeutic value of creating art.
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Art therapy promotes integration of both hemispheres of the brain (the left hemisphere is responsible for logic and language; the right hemisphere deals with creative and emotional processes), allowing for information to be processed in a different way than just talking allows.
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Art therapy reaches the unconscious in a way that can’t be accessed through verbal therapy.
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Art therapy allows for non-verbal expression of emotions, thoughts, and experiences that can’t be put into words.
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Art therapy can look different depending on what you are wanting to work on and your preferences, these are two ends of the spectrum of approaches that may be used:
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Art as Therapy: The process of making art alongside an art therapist has therapeutic benefits. It can be easier to talk about difficult topics while your hands are busy. There may be more of an emphasis put on the creative process, playing and experimenting with materials without focusing on the finished product, connecting with others while creating (groups and family sessions).
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Art Psychotherapy: Clients intentionally make art to explore from a perspective of the art being a representation of their inner experience. Art activities that specifically address what the client is working on will sometimes be suggested, or clients can have their own ideas of how to express their inner experience creatively. The art therapist is trained to ask questions and explore insights with the client to help the client find deeper meaning in the art (one-on-one sessions with teens and adults, activities in adult groups often delve into this realm without the expectation to share deeply in a group setting).
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Art and play are the language of children; it’s how they express their emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Art therapy allows them to work through challenges and express themselves in their language that feels safer.
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Creativity is how humans have always explored meaning and a form of communication-people of all ages can benefit from connecting with their creative side.
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Adolescents and adults can engage in art therapy to work with challenging emotions, explore and express themselves in new ways, and discover a deeper understanding of themselves.
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Groups can be helpful in developing skills and experiencing a sense of belonging and shared experiences.
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Art Therapy is a recognized profession
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The World Health Organization has acknowledged that art therapy improves mental and physical health, and there is a lot of other research documenting how Art Therapy is beneficial.
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The Canadian Art Therapy Association is the National governing body for Art Therapists in Canada. There are also Provincial-level Associations. (Brianna Harvey is a Registered Member of both CATA and the BCATA).
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Art Therapists receive graduate-level or Master's-level education
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Art Therapy can be an effective approach for:
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Anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges
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Stress and overwhelm/burnout
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Trauma
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Grief and bereavement
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Overwhelming emotions
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Relationships & interpersonal skills
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Self-expression
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Self-confidence & self-esteem
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Self-understanding and exploring identity
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Life transitions & coping with changes
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Problem-solvingImpulsivity
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Social/emotional/behavioral difficulties at school
Common benefits:
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Increased and improved self-expression
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Deeper understanding of self and awareness of strengths
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Improved communication with others, relationship skills, connection, and belonging
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Increased self-awareness, self-confidence, and identity formation
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Experiences of success, experimentation, relaxation, enjoyment, and belonging
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Improved skills around problem-solving, managing stress, emotional regulation, impulsivity, and coping with mental health challenges
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Improved overall mood and wellbeing
What to Expect from your Art Therapy Experience
Intake/Consultation
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Needs to be done prior to first session
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30 minutes
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Can be done over the phone or in person (for groups it can be done online through Jane booking site)
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If the client is under the age of 12, this meeting will be with the parent/guardian/caregiver.
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If the client is a minor but over the age of 12, they can consent to participate in art therapy without their caregiver's involvement. However, I do encourage them to include their parents in the process to whatever degree they are comfortable and will contact caregivers if something of serious concern arises in sessions.
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Sessions
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Your experience in art therapy is structured around what you are hoping to work on.
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The amount of sessions and session length is determined based on what you are working on, and may be adjusted as needed:
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Short-term (6-8 sessions weekly or bi-weekly): for working through a short-term challenge or focusing on/exploring one aspect of life.
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Long-term (can be as long as needed, weekly or bi-weekly or monthly after initial work has been done): for working through multiple challenges and/or layers of trauma that need to be approached gently
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Considerations for your Art Therapy Process
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You may find yourself being more introspective between sessions, contemplating any insight you gained from sessions- this is normal and healthy as you integrate what you have learned in sessions into your daily life. I encourage you to make art or journal between sessions when this arises.
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Ending sessions is an intentional part of the process, planned to set you up for better long-term success and provides the opportunity to close the therapeutic process in a healthy way. Sometimes clients like to have more spaced out sessions as they progress or switch towards being in a group to have that sense of support while they transition out of needing support.