How can Creativity support mental health?
Talking and exploring emotions is a huge part of a counselling journey, but it's not the only way. Some of the work we doing in a counselling session can be creative from using metaphors to help us visually recognise whats going on or using drawing and colouring to help support grounding techniques.
Creative activities can give our minds an opportunity to step away from the constant noise of everyday life. When we are absorbed in creating we can become more present in the moment, focusing on material, textures and colours. This may give us a chance to pause, breath and switch off from other thoughts that may take over.
Whilst i am not a qualified art therapist, I am a fully qualified Counsellor and creativity can be a helpful tool alongside talking.
With this in mind I am currently setting up a creative space alongside my current room.
Using creativity may not be your thing and thats fine we can use my room as it always has been. However if you fancy exploring the benefit creativity can bring to a counselling session it will also be possible.
Creativity isn't only reserved for artists. It can be as simple as using colours to explain emotions. you do not need to consider yourself artistic and you certainly don't need to create something perfect, its the process that matters.
Life can leave very little room for simply being present. Creative activities can create a small pocket of time where there is nowhere else you need to be, nothing you need to achieve and making self-care a space.
You can concentrate on whats in front of you and the hear and now.
For me creativity is not about producing artwork its about the experience of giving yourself permission to pause, explore and enjoying the process.
My aim is to use this space for counselling, to run workshops and expand into support groups over time. please feel free to have a look at my website for further details
