Art therapy fosters the creative impulse that is within each of us, the part of us which has the will to work towards health and healing. Creative art-making facilitated by a trained art therapist allows your inner self to find expression, and provides the opportunity to use your created images to gain understanding and perspective.   Images can go deeper than words and allow multiple layers of meaning to be expressed, giving voice to what may be too complex or diffictult to put into words.    The creative process is inherently healing. It draws on your strengths, and helps you to navigate the sometimes difficult terrain between inner experience and outer reality. Symbolic expression in art therapy provides a safe container for exploring potentially painful experiences. With the support of the art therapist, this process can enable you to work through difficult feelings without feeling overwhelmed or out of control.

Using art for self expression helps you to find safe ways to gain insight into anxiety-provoking material, look at the issues from a new vantage point and to find creative solutions to problems and discover the deeper wisdom of your inner self.  The creating and completing of expressive art  increases self esteem, mastery and self control and a sense of satisfaction and competence is experienced, reinforcing  healthy coping skills.   In addition, most people find creative activity to be pleasurable, so that the serious "work" of therapy is experienced as a positive interaction between you, the therapist, and the created art work.  The art therapist facilitates the creative process, empathizes and listens in a respectful manner, and offers encouragement and positive interventions when needed to support the growth, integration, and psychological health of the child, adolescent, or adult.