Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens in a psychotherapy session?
A: The first session is an introduction and a chance for the client and therapist to get to know one another. Topics discussed in the first session include: what are the clients’ strengths and interests, and what are their hopes for therapy. The client can ask questions about the therapy and share what they expect out of therapy. The client will have the chance to make art to introduce themselves, if they prefer that over talking. Subsequently, the client can bring up any issues or topics they would like to explore or process in each session. They will have the chance to either talk about it, make art, or process it somatically through Somatic Experiencing. The therapist will keep track of the client’s progress over several sessions, but each session is meant to have its own form of closure, be it big or small.
Q: Do we have to be good in art to do art therapy?
A: No, one does not have to be trained or considered proficient in art, to engage in art therapy. Art therapy focuses on the creative process and not the art product, in providing therapy to the client.
Q: Why is psychotherapy/art therapy so expensive?
A: The fees would go towards covering art materials expenses, rent, mandatory supervision & documentation, training, professional membership fees, website & other overheads. We are not funded or subsidised by the government or donations. We do strive to keep our rates affordable for clients as much as we can and this is reflected in the fees.
Q: What’s the difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy? Why is the latter more expensive?
A: It is generally thought that Counselling is more solution-focused, with more structured and tangible outcomes that can be short to medium term. Psychodynamic psychotherapy hopes to deal with deeper issues and coping patterns that may originate from complex trauma or areas such as our upbringing, family of origin and attachment styles. Psychotherapy in the form of art therapy & Somatic Experiencing may be said to be ‘indirect’ in that the therapy is client-led and the therapist uses more than verbal communication to effect healing in the client for sustained, medium to longer term growth. In psychotherapy, the answers to the issue are not given outright to the client, as the client may not be at a stage where they are able to accept the solution immediately. Instead, figuring out together what works best for the client in a process-oriented manner, allows the answers to emerge for the client to discover in a way that works best for them.
Q: I don’t know how to draw or paint. How would I be able to benefit from art therapy?
A: In art therapy, you would be offered a range of materials to choose from, to start creating. If you are stuck, the art therapist may offer some guidance or suggestions. However as it is an art therapy and not an instructional art session (unless stated), the objective of the session would not be to create an aesthetically pleasing product. As sessions progress, the art therapist may suggest certain materials or art activities to address certain therapeutic objectives for the client.
Q: Who can benefit from art therapy?
A: Art therapy has been used with various populations ranging from young to the elderly. A person who is able to be in the art therapy studio safely with the art therapist would be able to engage in art therapy. Before the first session, the client would have to fill up an intake form indicating the reasons for seeking art therapy.
Q: I am afraid that what I say, or my artwork, would be seen by others. How would my confidentiality be protected?
A: We abide by ethical confidentiality practices in line with the Australian, New Zealand, and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA). Client artwork and what is said in the session would be kept confidential, unless the client has expressed that safety (of the client or otherwise) is compromised. The client would be asked to sign a consent form for the artwork to be photographed, and session material to be used for supervision purposes.
Q: What will happen to my artwork?
A: Artwork produced in the session would be kept in secure storage under lock and key until the last session for review, unless the client would like to bring it back with them.
Q: What are the different forms of art I can engage in in art therapy?
A: At Creative Earth, the art therapist is a practising artist herself. She is familiar with various artistic media ranging from 2-dimensional art (drawing, painting, colouring, collage), 3-dimensional art (clay, sculpture, soft sculpture, recycled and found objects), archetype and symbolic work, fabric arts (weaving, sewing, embroidery, fabric sculptures), comic and zine-making, digital art, journaling, poetry. The list is non-exhaustive and the therapist is constantly learning to expand her vocabulary of art forms that may potentially be introduced to the client.
Q: I don’t feel like making art today. Is that okay?
A: That’s totally fine. Not every session must involve the creation of art if the client does not feel like it.
Q: I am not sure if the therapist is experienced enough or has the capability to support me. How would I know if she is the right therapist for me?
A: Everyone has the right to choose a therapist who is the right fit for you. You may ask questions and communicate with the therapist your concerns, to assess if the therapist is the right one for you. Through the course of therapy, you may also communicate with the therapist if there are any issues or if you disagree with where the therapy is going. A healthy therapeutic relationship is a two-way street and it is important to raise any concerns you may have with your therapist. On our end, there would also be an intake process that would require new clients to fill an intake form. In the first one or two sessions, the art therapist would assess your needs and discuss your therapeutic goals with you. At the intake stage or initial assessment, the art therapist may refer you to other therapists whose area of expertise are more suited to your needs.
Q: Is the therapist supervised?
The art therapist undertakes professional clinical supervision under ANZACATA guidelines for credentialed art therapists. She has regular clinical supervision in Somatic Experiencing by a faculty member of Somatic Experiencing Training Institute. She attends regular training and self-study to ensure she is up-to-date with current ethical psychotherapy practices.
Got any other questions? Email us at creativetraumahealing@gmail.com.