What does an Art Therapy session look like?

​Building off the posts in May about Art Therapy, each month I aim to write one post about some commonly asked questions of clients and professionals about Art Therapy. In this post we will look at what an Art Therapy session may look like. 

1. Pre-session planning: based on the previous session, and the client’s treatment goals, the therapist depending on their therapy approach would consider the art materials needed for the session and which Art Therapy intervention may be suitable for continuing to support the client’s goals.
2. Check-in: involves seeing how the client has been doing between sessions, what may have arisen for them including wins and challenges, and how they are feeling today. Based on the information the client shares, the focus may be on what has occurred between sessions or to continue exploring areas from the previous session or related to the client’s treatment goals. If the Art Therapist works from a client-centered approach they would ask the client what would be most important for them to focus on.
3. Choice of Materials: Art Therapist’s will have different materials available which may include markers, pencil crayons, drawing materials (pencils, eraser, etc.), pastels (oil and/or chalk), clay or clay alternative, paints (usually watercolour and/or acrylic), and other art related supplies depending on the preferred art material of the client, the age of the client, and what is currently being explored in sessions. Client’s have choice in the session about which material they prefer, at times it may be encouraged to start with more structured art materials such as pencil crayons and markers, and working up to more fluid materials such as paints and clay. This article about “Media Choices in Therapy”, that more fluid materials can elicit more intense emotional experiences, and needing to be mindful of this based on the client’s history including trauma.
4. Warm-Up: like a physical warm-up before exercise or fitness program, a client can benefit from getting the mind and hand/arm muscles “warmed-up”. An example of a warm-up in Art Therapy may include the therapist inviting a client to show how they are feeling with shapes and colours on a piece of paper.
5. Main art piece: based on pre-session planning, and the check-in, the main art piece may be spontaneous (meaning client directed) or the therapist may provide a few themes or directives for the client to explore. Keeping in mind directives or themes are to provide guidance to a client as the client always has a choice of what they are ready and willing to explore.
6. Discussion of the art: after the art is complete, the client has the option to share. Sometimes a client chooses not to share which is the client’s choice, the process of the art in witness of the Art Therapist can be enough for what the client needed in that moment. If the client chooses to share, the Art Therapist would ask some open-ended questions such as can you describe what you see in your artwork, and what was the process like for you.
7. Session closing: This may look different from client to client and therapist to therapist. The way I usually work is in the first few sessions with a client I explore what are helpful and meaningful ways to wrap up the session. This may include a short grounding art therapy exercise, connecting with the breath, choosing an affirmation, and/or asking the client what they are taking away from the session.

If you need additional support reach out to me, I am Nicole Levy, and I am here as your helping hand, let’s get started, book your complimentary initial consult today https://www.mindfulhealingjourney.ca/#/