What Happens in Art Psychotherapy?

For many people considering art psychotherapy, one of the first questions is simple: what actually happens in a session?

There can be some uncertainty around this, particularly if you have not worked with art materials before, or are unsure how making images might relate to therapy.

In practice, art psychotherapy is a flexible and reflective process. It brings together conversation and image-making, offering different ways of approaching experience.

Beginning a session

Sessions usually take place at a regular time each week and last for 1 hour. In online work, we meet via a secure video platform - usually Google Meet (you do not require a Google account).

There is no fixed agenda for what should be brought. Some sessions may begin with something specific, such as a situation, feeling, or question. Others may begin more openly.

We might start by talking, or you may feel drawn to begin with image-making. Both are equally valid starting points.

Working with art materials

A distinctive aspect of art psychotherapy is the use of materials such as drawing, painting, or collage. These offer another way of expressing and exploring experience, particularly where words feel limited or too direct.

The process is not about producing a finished piece of art, and there is no expectation of skill or technique. The focus is on the act of making, and on what may begin to emerge through it.

Sometimes an image may feel clear or intentional. At other times it may be uncertain, fragmentary, or difficult to understand. This is part of the process.

Talking and reflecting

Alongside image-making, there is space to talk. This may involve describing what you are experiencing, reflecting on an image, or simply speaking about what is on your mind.

At times the conversation may feel familiar, similar to other forms of therapy. At other times, the presence of an image can shift how something is approached. It may offer a different perspective, or allow something to be held without needing to fully explain it.

There is no requirement to analyse or interpret images in a particular way. The emphasis is on curiosity and reflection, rather than arriving at a fixed meaning.

Do I need to be good at art?

A common concern is whether any artistic ability is needed. The simple answer is no.

Art psychotherapy is not about producing work for display or evaluation. It is about using materials as a way of thinking, feeling, and exploring.

For some people, this can feel unfamiliar at first. Over time, many find that working with images allows access to aspects of experience that are difficult to reach through words alone.

Although no prior experience of using art materials is required to participate in the therapy sessions, due to my own experience in art I do have a particular interest in providing psychotherapy for artists and those with an existing creative practice.

What if I don't want to use art materials?

Working with art materials is always optional.

Some sessions may involve image-making, while others may be entirely conversational. The process is responsive to what feels appropriate for you at the time.

Choosing not to use materials is not a limitation of the work. It is simply one way in which the process can take shape.

The role of the image

When images are made in therapy, they can be returned to, reflected on, or simply allowed to remain as they are.

An image may hold something of an experience without needing to be reduced to a clear explanation. It can act as a point of reference that can be revisited over time, as understanding shifts or deepens.

In this sense, images are not treated as problems to be solved, but as expressions that can be lived with and thought about.

A different way of approaching experience

Art psychotherapy can offer a different way of engaging with thoughts and feelings, one that is not limited to verbal explanation.

For some, this allows a greater sense of distance or perspective. For others, it brings them closer to something that has been difficult to access.

As with depth-oriented therapy more broadly, the process often unfolds gradually. There may be moments of clarity, but also periods of uncertainty. Both are part of the work.

Working online

Online art psychotherapy involves adapting the use of materials to your own space. This might include simple materials you already have available, such as paper and pens or pencils.

Working from home can offer a sense of familiarity and privacy. Images can be kept, revisited, or stored in a way that feels comfortable for you.

Guidance can be offered where needed, but the emphasis remains on keeping the process accessible and open.

Is Art Psychotherapy right for me?

It can be difficult to know in advance whether this way of working will feel like a good fit.

Some people are drawn to art psychotherapy because they are already interested in creative processes. Others come to it with little or no experience of art, but a sense that talking alone may not be enough.

You do not need to be certain before beginning. An initial consultation can offer a chance to ask questions, get a sense of how the work might feel, and decide whether it is something you would like to explore further.

This post considers some common reasons why people can be uncertain about starting psychotherapy in general.

Working together and exploring what happens in Art Psychotherapy

I offer online art psychotherapy for adults across the UK. If you are considering beginning therapy, you are welcome to get in touch with any questions or to arrange an initial consultation. My email address and a contact form is available at the foot of each page on this site.

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Andrew Phillips is a Visual Artist, Psychotherapist, and Creative Mentor in the UK.

If this article has resonated, you are welcome to get in touch with any questions or to arrange an initial consultation. My website provides full details about online Art Psychotherapy in the UK, including how the therapeutic process and realtionship works, and beginning therapy.

You can also explore my work in Creative Mentoring and my practice as an artist via the website.

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