What is Art Therapy

Art therapy offers you a non-verbal way of exploring and expressing your inner feelings through art making and engagement with art materials, which can lead to insights, greater self-awareness, reduced anxiety, resolved conflict, and improved resilience. Using a person-centred approach, art therapy integrates art making with psychology theories, counselling practices, and art media property knowledge, to help people unpack and explore their feelings, emotions, challenges, identities, and more.

Art therapy is not about making beautiful artwork or creating master pieces (i.e. you do not have to be “good at art” or “creative” to benefit from art therapy!). Different from the conventional fine art discipline, in art therapy the process is as important, if not more important, than the outcome. Art materials may range from controlled media (e.g. markers, pencils, fine liners, oil pastels) to fluid media (e.g. watercolour, soft pastels, ink, acrylic paint). Tactile materials such as clay and craft materials (e.g. wool, fabric, beads), natural materials (e.g. leaves and branches), and found objects are also common in art therapy. In summary, there is no one right way of doing art therapy.

  • 50 – 60 minutes.
  • Sessions are tailored to your therapeutic goals and art making preferences.
  • The number of sessions varies for everyone. It can range from single sessions to 6-8 sessions or more.
  • You may engage in one or more art making activities during the session.
  • The art therapist will hold the space for you with their full presence, unconditional positive regard, and curiosity.

Group Art Therapy

  • 60 – 90 minutes.
  • We offer two types of art therapy groups: Theme-based (more structure) and Open Studio (less structure)
  • The Art Therapist plays the role of a facilitator, witness, and assistant during these sessions.
  • Groups are typically 4 – 8 people.
  • You may be invited to share your reflection and experience during the session (Sharing is optional).

Dyadic Art Therapy

  • 50 – 60 minutes.
  • Perfect for parent-child bonding through art making.
  • Sessions will be tailored according to the age of the child, therapeutic goals and material preferences.
  • For example, sessions may entail “painting together”, “clay and play”, “joint-collage making”, etc.
  • Suitable for children who are 18 months+.

All art making prompts are invitations only, and you are not obligated to engage in an activity if do not feel comfortable to do so. It is about how the art making and art materials can best serve your needs at a given point in time.

While art therapy is often described as a non-verbal modality, the Art Therapist is also a trained counsellor and provides as much or as little verbal exchange during sessions based on your needs and preferences.

You will be able to keep all art work created.

For all one-on-one and dyadic art therapy clients, a free virtual meet-and-greet session (15 minutes) will be offered to discuss your therapeutic goals and circumstances. Should you decide art therapy or Cerulean Space is not for you after the session, there will be no obligation to proceed. Parental consent will be required for children under 18 years old.