FAQS
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE
If you have a question not answered here please feel free to contact me.
I'M NOT AN ARTIST, I CAN'T DRAW?
You do not need to be an artist to participate in Art Therapy!
The act of "creating" is what is important in Art Therapy, because when we create something we are using the same part of the brain that holds our "emotional memories". This part of the brain is non-verbal and purely emotional, let's imagine for instance, making an unformed, possibly ugly lump of clay with a broken pen stuck in it, this creation may represent an emotion that does not have actual words to describe it, but in the making process the "emotion" has been felt/acknowledged and can then begin to be addressed and processed.
Art Therapy is a gentle therapy and moves at the speed needed by the client.
ART THERAPY ONLINE
In an online art therapy session you will be asked to have some art making materials handy. This doesn't mean you need expensive "art" supplies, you can simply use a piece of paper and a biro. Here are some simple and inexpensive ideas:
- Old magazines, paper, dried leaves, sweet wrappers etc & glue for collage.
- Found objects, a stone, stick, shell that caught your interest (please remember to always consider your safety when collecting found items)
- Paper to draw on, or fold.
Remember, with Art Therapy it is about the expression of emotion and the making process not about the "beauty" of a piece of art.
In the session time will be set aside for art making.
You will be asked to keep your art work so that we may review at regular intervals during therapy.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM AN ONLINE ART THERAPY SESSION?
A typical online Art Therapy session will involve the client and the therapist meeting in a video call. In a session there will be time to talk and time to create a piece of art. Sometimes you might not want to use art materials and would prefer to just talk, or maybe you feel you would just like to make some art with minimal talking, either are ok, the sessions are flexible depending on what the client needs. The therapist will work intuitively with you and will gently ask questions surrounding the art you have made in the sessions.
The nature of art making can elicit surprisingly powerful emotions and the Art Therapist will be attuned to these effects and will guide you in exploring these. This is a powerful psychological journey that may awaken deeply hidden emotions and I strongly advise you ensure you are working with a registered Art Therapist before embarking on this kind of journey.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ART I MAKE IN AN ONLINE ART THERAPY SESSION?
The therapist will ask you to keep your art work in a safe place so that regular reviews of progress can be done. It is often interesting for the client to look back over their work and see if some of their emotions feel "resolved" or if they would like to continue to explore that area.
Maybe you would like to email a copy of the art work to the therapist. Symbolically, this allows the therapist to "hold" the emotions that the artwork contains, allowing you space to process what the artwork brought to the surface.
At the end of therapy you can choose to keep your artwork or to dispose of it. The last therapy session will be used for this. All artwork emailed to the therapist will be disposed of in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) / The Data Protection Act 2018, unless you have given specific consent for images to be used anonymously at a later date. This consent will be detailed in the contract at the commencement of therapy and can be changed at any point in the future.
HOW DO I BOOK A THERAPY SESSION ?
If you are interested in online Art Therapy session please email me to make an appointment.
When you enquire about an appointment you will be supplied with further information surrounding your chosen service. This will include a full information sheet and a contract between you and the therapist that you will need to sign before treatment begins. This is to ensure you are fully aware of what is being offered.
You are welcome to email any questions to me before booking.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM A REIKI SESSION?
**The Reiki Service is currently on hold and will be reviewed in the Summer of 2022**
The 45 minute online Reiki session will be held over Skype (please discuss with me if you would like a different online platform) I will use a "proxy" to send the reiki to you, I usually use a soft toy, there will be 30 minutes of reiki and some space at the beginning of the session for discussion.
In-Person Sessions:
When you arrive for an "in-person" Reiki session, I will welcome you into the treatment room and will invite you to lie on a treatment table, you do not need to remove any clothing.
The 45 minute session will involve approximately 30 minutes of Reiki, where I will channel Reiki energy through my hands to you. Depending on your preference this can be using the "hands on" technique, or the no touch technique where I "beam" the energy towards you. During the treatment I will concentrate on balancing the Chakras and I will work intuitively seeking areas of the body where I feel would benefit from Reiki energy. You may feel areas of heat or a tingling sensation. You may also feel deeply relaxed and fall asleep, if this is the case I will wake you gently before the end of the session to give you time to wake fully.
There will be gentle relaxing meditative music and I may burn incense or essential oils throughout the treatment. This can be tailored to your tastes.
DO YOU HELP TREAT TERMINAL OR CHRONIC ILLNESS?
Both Reiki and Art Therapy can be helpful for terminal or chronic illnesses and work well alongside your traditional medical treatment.
Reiki encourages relaxation and helps bring balance to the mind and the emotions.
Reiki's gentle energy may be used safely by people of all ages and in any situation.
For further information visit: www.reikifed.co.uk
Art Therapy can help to process difficult emotions and anxieties that may be present in chronic and terminal illnesses.
Art therapists work with children, young people, adults and the elderly. Clients may have a wide range of difficulties, disabilities or diagnoses. These include emotional, behavioural or mental health problems, learning or physical disabilities, life-limiting conditions, neurological conditions and physical illnesses.
For Further information visit: www.baat.org/About-Art-Therapy
HOW DO YOU STORE MY INFORMATION?
Your information will be stored in accordance to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) / The Data Protection Act 2018 regulations. When you book a Reiki treatment session or enquire about Art Therapy I will supply you with full information surrounding storage and disposal of your personal details via email.
Can’t find the answer to your question? Email me!
I aim to answer emails within 24 hours.