What Is Art Psychotherapy?

A hand covered in colorful, swirled paint against a blurred blue background.

Art psychotherapy (also known as art therapy) is a form of therapy that uses art making—like drawing, painting, or working with clay—to help people express and explore their thoughts and emotions. You don’t need to be “good at art” to benefit. The focus is not on creating something perfect, but on using the creative process to support emotional healing, personal insight, and mental wellbeing.

A qualified art psychotherapist helps guide the process in a safe, supportive space where you can reflect on what your artwork means to you, what feelings come up, and how it connects to your life

Person painting on a canvas on an easel, holding a paintbrush and palette, with a tattoo of a video game controller on their wrist, and green leaves visible on the left side.

Who is art therapy good for?

Art psychotherapy can be helpful for people of all ages and backgrounds.

It can be especially useful if:

  • You find it hard to put feelings into words

  • Traditional talk therapy hasn’t helped in the way you hoped for

  • You want to process emotions on a somatic level

Art psychotherapy is specially supportive for those who feel stuck or overwhelmed and are looking for new ways to express themselves and feel heard.

You don’t need any artistic skill—just a willingness to explore.

How does Art Psychotherapy work differently to talk therapy?

Art psychotherapy works a little differently than traditional talk therapy. While talk therapy focuses mostly on thinking and talking things through (a “top-down” approach), art psychotherapy also works with the body and emotions in a more direct way (a “bottom-up” approach).

This means that instead of just talking about your experiences, you use creative expression to explore feelings that might be hard to put into words. This can be especially helpful for processing deep emotions or trauma, as it allows your body and nervous system to be part of the healing process—not just your mind. We can also work with sensory materials to support this healing further and aid in regulating your nervous system.

By engaging with art materials and the creative process, you can access and release emotions stored in the body, making it a powerful and often more holistic form of therapy.

A close-up view of colorful pastel chalk sticks organized in three compartments.
Close-up of a painter's palette with colorful dried paint, hanging on a white wall.

FAQs

  • Individual sessions (60 mins): £60

    Fundraising available for limited spots for low-income clients – please ask.

  • Please use the contact form below to book an initial meeting. I will get back to you with times available to meet to see if we are a good match. If you decide you want to work together, we will find a time that works for both of us.

  • Typically we will meet weekly.

    Consistency helps within therapy, but flexibility is possible.

    We will find something that is best and accessible for you.

  • I will hold on to your artwork until the end of therapy.

    Artwork can hold challenging emotions and it will be contained within the therapy space safely until the end of therapy where you will decide if you want to take it home or have the artwork destroyed.

    • Step-free access to the therapy room and to the bathroom.

    • Sensory needs: Low lighting available, fidgets available, white noise machine available.

    I aim to make my therapy space as accessible as possible. If you have further access needs please let me know so I can accommodate.

Contact me

If you’re interested in art therapy with me or have any questions, please complete the contact form on this page.

I look forward to hearing from you

Person holding a paintbrush directly towards the camera, with an out-of-focus person and windows in the background.