Supporting your mental health through our creative Art Therapy service in Manchester

Are you struggling to understand your thoughts, feelings, or behaviours?  Maybe a difficult life experience has been affecting your wellbeing, but it feels hard to put into words?

We understand how tough it can be to move forward when you feel a bit stuck in life, but we are here to help you find a new perspective by using creativity and artmaking to enable communication and self-understanding in a way that will words alone cannot always do.

What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that allows an exploration of often complex thoughts, feelings, and emotions through the creative process of artistic materials. It can be successful in resolving emotional conflict, aid in changing your behaviour and help you to develop effective coping skills that feel right to you.

Unlike an art class, the focus of art therapy is not to teach artistic techniques, grade or improve your artistic skill. Instead, an art therapist will encourage you to explore and express your inner emotions, making sense of how you might feel, through the process of creating art.

Who can Art Therapy help?

Art therapy is designed to help people of all ages, abilities and stages of life.

Art therapy can help those who may by diagnosed or struggle with (including but not limited too):

• Fear, anger or stress
• Anxiety or Depression
• Trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Bereavement, feelings of loss or life changes
• Addiction problems
• Illness, physical disability, or neurological conditions
• Addiction
• Eating Disorders
• A learning disability
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• With emotional or behavioural difficulties
• Personal growth and development
• Low self-esteem or confidence

What does Art Therapy at The Retreat Clinics involve?

Art therapy offers a non-judgemental, confidential, and supportive environment where difficulties can be expressed openly and unravelled together.

Available at our welcoming Manchester clinic, our highly qualified and registered Art Psychotherapist Chloe Sykes can provide art therapy on a one-to-one basis or in a group. Taking a person-centred approach, Chloe will be on hand to guide and support you throughout the creative process, supporting you to reflect and find the words to articulate how adverse experiences may have affected your wellbeing. Towards the end of the session, Chloe will encourage you to discuss the art you have created and any feelings that have arisen, this will allow you to analyse and search for themes and conflicts that may have been affecting your thoughts, emotions and behaviours.

Part of our art therapist’s role also includes working closely in partnership with person’s support network – this could include parents, carers and other health or social care professionals.

What happens to my artwork?

We will ensure that strict confidentiality is adhered too, this includes both clinical notes, artwork made and what you discuss during the therapy sessions. Our art therapist will safely store your artwork during the course of your therapy and discuss with you in your final session what you would like to do with your artwork.

How do I start Art Therapy?

For more information on our art therapy services please get in touch by using the form below, emailing manchester@theretreatclinics.org.uk or calling 0161 445 2099.

We can also provide art therapy at our York clinic.