Dave Rogers Art Therapy

Dave Rogers

Art Therapy

Benefits :

develop your imagination with art materials
have emotional support which includes your own thoughts and feelings
have time to explore the meaning of past and present experiences
gain and build confidence and inspiration
find creative ways of gaining insight and self-knowledge
experience the health and creative benefits of self-expression with the support of an experienced and trained therapist
enjoy using 'art' materials and create a portfolio of your personal images and objects

Art Therapy has a long history of working with the creative needs of clients. The belief that art has therapeutic properties is one in which art therapists strongly trust.

An art therapist goes though rigorous training with the aim to help clients to: address deep-seated personal issues, find ways to communicate with art materials as an alternative to relying constantly upon words, find enjoyment and relief in the process of finding their own creative expression and to build confidence in relationships and with oneself.

The Art Therapist is present to assure clients that the work together is confidential, and an appropriate agreement is made between the therapist and client as to the nature of that confidentiality.

It is stated frequently that a client does not need artistic skills to use art therapy. This can seem strange for some clients, yet it is true. Most of us make marks, scribbles, doodles and images during our lives. Art Therapy enables this and further mark-making to be accessible to those who wish to discover and work with their own ideas and emotions in a constructive way.

A quote from the British Association of Art Therapists gives an excellent description.

‘Sometimes words cannot be used or found to describe thoughts and feelings but the process involved in image-making, and the images themselves can help to do so. Sometimes there are just too many words – and they get in the way of being able to be in touch with emotions. These are some of the reasons for the ‘Art' in art therapy.

My Art Therapy and supervision experience :

I trained as an Illustrator and then as a painter/sculptor. After leaving Art College I had my own art practice. I used art in my work as a community social worker and youth worker and found it was an invaluable way of connecting and communicating.

Since qualifying as an Art Therapist, I have worked with a variety of clients individually and in groups including :

adults and young people
individuals interested in exploring their own issues
trainee Art Therapists
people with learning disabilities
prisoners
people with HIV and Aids
adults and young people with acquired brain injury and neurological disorders

I also provide :

supervision for Art Therapists
training for a variety of organisations
consultation and support
telephone consultation/supervision