What is Art Therapy?

For some individuals a more specialist intervention is necessary to help improve their mental health and emotional well-being.  At Alexander McLeod we employ a fully trained Art Therapist for two days a week to work with individual children and their families.

Art therapy is an intervention which involves using arts-based activities in a therapeutic environment, with the support of a trained professional. Children don't need to have done these activities before, or have any particular skills or knowledge

Different people will have different experiences of arts and creative therapies, but they all aim to:

• Give the child a safe time and place with someone who won't judge them.
• Help the child make sense of things and understand themselves better.
• Help the child resolve complicated feelings, or find ways to live with them.
• Help the child communicate and express themselves ,which might include feelings or experiences they find hard to put into words.

If it is felt that Art Therapy would be beneficial parents/carers consent is required and a referral is made to Sue Morrow, the Art Therapist. Sue works closely with school staff and parents and carers when carrying out this therapy with the child.