How To Use Art In Therapy

The artist knows the truth.....

Are you a coach, therapist or psychologist working with clients trying to find the root of a problem or the repeating patterns in your clients life? In small groups in English or Dutch at my practice I will share the knowledge I've accumulated in the last decade on using drawings in therapy. I will also be hosting online workshops in English for larger groups.

In my opinion and based on my own research, the most important way of looking at a drawing is to always realise the 'artist' or client knows what it means! That may sound strange if you've learnt that certain symbols have a specific meaning - let me repeat, the artist knows the truth. So how do you access their truth?

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Depending on the assignment you've given to your client it's extremely important to first ascertain what their first thoughts were in relation to the question asked. This of course gives you the starting point to look at what they've actually drawn. When you can look at how a line has been drawn, the perspective in a drawing, the colours used, your questions can really draw the truth out. If you are of the opinion that a symbol has a certain meaning then I would ask you to take that 'meaning' with a pinch of salt. It might be useful but if you can't see past it for the meaning that a client has chosen it to have it will create a miscommunication.

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Contact me for more information or see 'events'.

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