Art is a language we can speak together. The art-therapeutic process prompts, subtly, the children to ask themselves the question “Who am I?” and helps the therapist understand how to best help them unfold their true potential.
The educational and medical considerations are important clues, but they offer a limited view of the child’ s unique self. How many times a standardised assessment in school or a psycho-therapeutic label (such as ADHD, for instance) have led to a “black-and-white” categorisation, to an obstructed view of who the child really was? History abounds in examples of extraordinary people who shaped up humanity, because they refused to be limited by the label imposed on them by society.
These are just a few of the themes used in children’s sessions:
Self – identity through representations of self (self-portraits, masks decorations etc)
“Making sense” of the world (using wisdom archetypes from fairy tales as metaphors)
Illustrating their own “truth”, by identifying with a character from a story
Connecting with the outside world (through land art and nature-themes topics: seasons, animals, birds, plants)
Sessions can be collective or individual. Individual sessions offer a more tailored approach. During the sessions, I may create artwork alongside with the child, or they can work alone, and, afterwards, the artwork will be discussed. The child can choose to remain silent too, whatever makes them feel comfortable is the best approach.
Art therapy is open to everyone, regardless of artistic abilities. Unlike an art class, no prior experience is necessary and your artwork will not be judged or interpreted.
