How It Can Help
Sometimes parents know exactly what's troubling their child. Other times, they just sense that something isn't right. That instinct is important, and it's worth trusting.
Anxiety in children often looks different than in adults. Your child might complain of stomach aches, avoid school, become clingy, or have difficulty sleeping. They may not be able to explain what's wrong because they don't fully understand it themselves.
Art psychotherapy provides a way for children to explore and express these feelings through creativity, without needing to put them into words. The process of making art in a safe, contained space can help a child begin to understand and manage their anxiety over time.
Separation, bereavement, a new sibling, moving house, or a parent's illness. Children feel these changes deeply, even when they don't show it openly. They may not have the language to describe what they're experiencing, but it comes out in other ways: mood changes, withdrawal, anger, or regression.
Art psychotherapy creates a safe space where children can process these experiences and begin to make sense of them, at a pace that feels right for them.
When children act out, withdraw, or seem like a different child, it usually reflects something happening beneath the surface that they can't express. Anger, defiance, or withdrawal are often signs that a child needs support, not punishment.
Art psychotherapy helps children discover safer ways to communicate what they're feeling. Through the creative process, they can explore what's driving the behaviour and develop healthier ways of expressing their needs.
A diagnosis of ADHD or autism can leave parents feeling unsure and overwhelmed. Art psychotherapy doesn't treat the diagnosis itself, but it can support children in managing the emotional challenges that come with it: frustration, difficulties with friendships, feeling different, or navigating a world that doesn't always accommodate them.
The non-verbal, creative nature of art psychotherapy can be particularly well-suited to neurodivergent children who may find traditional talking therapy difficult or uncomfortable.
Some children find school overwhelming to the point where they can't attend. This is often driven by anxiety, sensory difficulties, social pressures, or a combination of factors. It's distressing for the whole family.
Art psychotherapy can help children work through what's making school feel impossible, building emotional resilience and coping strategies at their own pace. The therapy room becomes a safe testing ground where they can process difficult feelings without the pressure of the school environment.
Some children have been through experiences that are hard for anyone to process, let alone a child. Art psychotherapy offers a gentle, non-intrusive way to begin working through trauma, at the child's own pace, without pressure to talk about what happened before they're ready.
The art materials provide a layer of safety. A child can express something through an image that they may not be able, or ready, to say out loud. This indirect approach can be particularly effective for trauma, where the experience may be stored in the body and emotions rather than in words.
Children who seem quiet, unsure of themselves, or reluctant to try new things may be struggling with how they see themselves. They might compare themselves to others, feel like they're not good enough, or withdraw from activities they once enjoyed.
Art psychotherapy can help them build a stronger sense of who they are and what they're capable of, through a process that feels creative rather than pressured. The experience of making something, being witnessed without judgment, and having their expression valued can be quietly transformative.
If a teacher, school counsellor, or GP has suggested that your child might benefit from therapy, you're in the right place. I work regularly with referrals from GPs and schools, and together we can discuss what the referral means and whether art psychotherapy is the right fit for your child.
If you're a professional looking to refer a child or adolescent, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I'm happy to discuss whether art psychotherapy is appropriate and how we can work together to support the young person.
If you're unsure whether art psychotherapy is right for your child, an initial conversation can help us explore that together. There is no obligation and no cost for that first call.
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