Stories and experiences
"I’ve tried a lot of different therapy. I think I’ve tried six different types of therapy other than art therapy. But art gives me a way to visualise what’s going on and makes sense of it, because I find it quite hard to make sense of my head, so it helped me to visualise what was going on."
"In art therapy, it’s completely different. You almost feel like you own part of the space, parts of you that shut down, the bits of you that maybe clam up, and the bits of you that think, ‘Oh I shouldn’t say this, shouldn’t say that.’"
"Getting things out in the open and allowing it to be talked about. Instead of me bringing it up, the picture sort of did it for me. And it felt better that the picture was there first and then talking about it afterwards."
"With gentle encouragement, even if they spent thirty seconds on their artwork, it delivered a huge amount to discuss and tapped in to where they were emotionally."
"It gave me a kind of light bulb moment to go, “Okay, this might be how I’m feeling, but actually I am feeling it. It is valid, but it’s not always going to be there.”"
"I wanted to be believed and I just feel like a big weight has been lifted and I don’t have to be frightened to talk about it anymore."
"It's going to sound really corny, but I’m actually at peace with myself.I have changed. But for the most part I’m more relaxed, and more, I suppose, open to the idea of being engaged in this world as opposed to trying to live outside of it."
