Art is a natural developmental activity for your child and something they engage with in their day-to-day life. Art is a way to communicate non verbally and symbolically. As a therapeutic intervention, it can be especially useful for your child with emotional, behavioural and developmental issues.
Your child might find it hard to express or verbalise their feelings. They may find it hard to understand what they are experiencing. Through art making, they get a chance to express themselves without solely the use of words. Art is a great medium to encourage development, process stressful experience, learn social skills, to give your child a sense of self control and to build confidence and self esteem.
As art psychotherapists, we work in a systemic and child-centred way, within the context of your child’s family, home, school and any other environment or system of which they are a part. Parents, caregivers and where necessary teachers are supported and encouraged to be active in this process so the skills and resources developed and learnt by your child can be carried over into both home and school situations.
As art psychotherapists, we will enter into a dynamic relationship with your child, that helps them make sense of their experiences. To make this possible there is a process, that as parents/carers you first need to engage in.
How it works
The art psychotherapy process starts with an initial intake meeting between the art psychotherapist and the parent/carers of the child. The intake meeting gathers information pertinent to the child’s history, development, and family circumstances. Reasons for referral and other concerns are explored and the art psychotherapy process is explained to parents/carers. This initial meeting allows parents/carers to become familiar with the art psychotherapist and the art psychotherapy space. Based on the information gathered, the art psychotherapist and the parents/carers agree on an initial treatment plan. An informed written consent needs to be given by both parents/carers before the sessions can go ahead. Parental review meetings are held on a regular basis to discuss progress with parents/carers.
The first session for the child will be an assessment session to meet their art psychotherapist and understand how art psychotherapy works. Art psychotherapy sessions are one to one sessions and an hour long.
To arrange an initial appointment for your child, please contact
Rebecca O’Connor on 086 1779733 or Pia Lück on 087 7752361
