Art Therapists encourage people to use both art making and talking to explore their internal worlds and communicate what might be distressing to them. The therapist seeks to carefully attune to a person’s process and support a creative and playful encounter within the holding frame of the therapeutic relationship.

Crucially, Art Therapists can enable people to use images as projective spaces for containing complex and unprocessed material that may be too difficult to express verbally. In this way, this material can be gently encountered and perhaps brought further into awareness. In Art Therapy, the degree to which unconscious material is held symbolically within the images and art processes, or is brought to greater awareness through being explored verbally, can vary greatly. In this way, Art Therapy is thought to be an accessible modality for people who have experienced significant challenges to their emotional, psychological or cognitive development and who have not been able to form a coherent narrative about their life experiences or who might have a poorly developed sense of self.

Music Therapists draw upon the innate qualities of music to support people of all ages and abilities in the exploration and safe expression of difficult emotions, and to enhance communication. The therapeutic relationship is central to how Music Therapy works; this is established and developed through engagement in live musical interaction and play.

Using music in this way enables patients to playfully create and express their own unique musical language. A range of musical styles and instruments can be used during active, shared music making; differently sized instruments, that are either toned or percussive, can be used in improvisation or more structured, thematic composition. This process may also involve using one’s voice to sing both pre-composed and known songs or to explore vocal sounds and qualities.

We are able to work with people who experience complex difficulties and who would benefit from a mainly (but not exclusively) non-verbal approach. Because musical participation and response does not depend solely on the ability to speak, Music Therapy is a particularly effective clinical intervention for those who have difficulties communicating in both verbal and non-verbal ways, e.g. for people who are on the autistic spectrum, providing a safe and less direct means of forming a therapeutic relationship.

How can I be referred to Art Therapy?

• If you are not already using specialist adult mental health services, you can be referred by your GP, primary care mental health worker or mental health social worker.
• If you are already using mental health services, you can be referred by any professional who is working with you, e.g. your community psychiatric nurse, psychiatrist, occupational therapist or other psychological therapist.
• If you are an inpatient, you can discuss a referral with any member of the ward staff.

Where is Art Therapy available in NHS Forth Valley?

• Art Therapy is available in both community and inpatient settings.
• Community Art Therapy is available at:
  • Woodlands Resource Centre
  • Livilands Resource Centre
  • Clackmannanshire Mental Health Resource Centre
• Inpatient Art Therapy is available at:
  • Bellsdyke Hospital
  • The Mental Health Unit at Forth Valley Royal Hospital

What happens after I’ve been referred to Art Therapy?

• You will first be offered a triage appointment.
• The purpose of this appointment is to make sure that you understand what you have been referred to and whether it is the right approach for you at this time.
• You can then be offered a period of trial therapy – this is called an assessment.
• The assessment will be an opportunity for you and your therapist to:
  • think in greater depth about whether Art Therapy could be of benefit to you; it might be that you would benefit more from another type of psychological therapy or alternative support
  • begin to form a clearer idea of what the main difficulties are that are bringing you to therapy
  • consider initial goals for the therap
  • agree on either individual or group therap
  • agree on how long the therapy will be for

What different types of Art Therapy are available to me?

Individual Art Therapy

• This can be brief or longer-term. You will be advised by your therapist about how long your treatment will last.
• Each Individual therapy session lasts either 50 minutes or an hour and usually takes place weekly.
• You will see the same therapist for the duration of your treatment.

Group Art Therapy

• Groups usually run for a fixed number of weeks.
• Most of our groups are what we call closed groups; this means that new members do not join after the group has started.
• Groups can be run by either one or two members of staff; they will always be the same therapists.
• Groups usually last for one-and-a-half hours and take place weekly.

What happens to my artwork in Art Therapy?

• Your artwork is usually kept by the therapist for as long as you’re in therapy. This helps to keep it safe and private.
• You can take your artwork home with you when the therapy has finished.

How can I get to do Art Therapy in CAMHS?

• To do Art Therapy in CAMHS, you need to have come to a Choice appointment first.
• The person at the Choice appointment will think with you about what might be most helpful as a next step – this could be Art Therapy.
• You can also talk to a parent or carer, or other trusted adult, and ask for their advice.

Where can I do Art Therapy in CAMHS?

• You can do Art Therapy at The Manor (Falkirk CAMHS).
• If you usually go to Stirling CAMHS, you will need to travel to the Manor to see the Art Therapist.

What happens next?

• You’ll be offered a first appointment with the Art Therapist.
• This will be a chance to find out a bit more about Art Therapy and make sure that you still want to give it a go.
• You’ll then be offered some more appointments – this is called an assessment.
• The assessment will be a chance for you to:
  • get to know the therapist a bit better.
  • think a bit more about whether Art Therapy is right for you at this time – you may prefer to do another type of therapy or try some other kind of support.
  • think a bit more about what the problems are and what you want to work on.
  • agree on either individual or group therapy for you.
  • agree how long you’re going to work with the therapist for.

What happens after the assessment?

• You might see the therapist by yourself. This can be helpful if there are things you want to think about without your parent or carer being in the room.
• Sometimes it helps if your parent or carer comes into the therapy with you. Then you can work on things together.
• Your therapist will think with you and your parent or carer about which is better for you.
• Each therapy session lasts up to one hour and usually takes place once a week.
• You will see the same therapist for all of your therapy.
• Therapy can last from a few months up to couple of years. Your therapist will talk to you about this.
• Sometimes we also run groups. Your therapist will tell you if this is an option.

What happens to my artwork in Art Therapy?

• Your artwork is usually kept by the therapist for as long as you’re in therapy. This helps to keep it safe and private.
• You can take your artwork home with you when the therapy has finished.

What are Art and Music Therapy?

An Art or Music Therapist is someone that can help you understand your feelings. They will listen to you and support you with any difficult feelings you have.

Sometimes it can be hard to talk about your feelings. Using art or music can help you express how you feel.

Talking and thinking about things that are upsetting can be difficult. You might learn new skills and have fun in Art or Music Therapy.

Art and Music Therapy helps you to:

• Express feelings through art and music that are hard to talk about.
• Think about things that make you sad and happy.
• Think about things you want to change in your life.
• Learn skills to cope when things in your life are difficult.
• Understand how you get on with other people.

What happens in an Art or Music Therapy session?

Therapy sessions are in a private and safe place.

The therapist will support you to make art or music which expresses how you are feeling.
You can talk with your therapist about what your music means to you.

You can use lots of different music instruments in Music Therapy, like piano, guitar or drums.

In Art Therapy You can use lots of different art materials including: paints, pens, paper, clay, chalks and pastels.

Where do sessions take place?

Music Therapy is available at Lochview, NHS Forth Valley.

You can have Art Therapy in different places in NHS Forth Valley:

• Woodlands Resource Centre, Falkirk
• Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre
• Livilands Resource Centre, Stirling

Who will be there?

Your Art Therapist or Music Therapist, will be there.

Usually you will see your Therapist on your own.

You may want to bring someone to your first appointment to support you.

Do I have to be good at art or music?

You do not have to be good at art or music.

You do not need to have made Music before.

How long will Therapy last?

Art and Music Therapy sessions last up to 1 hour, but can be shorter.

Sessions usually happen once a week.

Everyone needs a different number of sessions. This depends on what you want to work on.

We can think about this together in our first few sessions.

What happens during an Art or Music Therapy Assessment?

Once you have been referred to Art or Music Therapy, you will be asked to come to an appointment.
At this appointment the therapist may ask you back for more appointments. We call this the Therapy Assessment.

This usually lasts up to 6 sessions, but can last longer.

During these sessions your therapist will get to know you. They may encourage you to use the art materials, or music instruments.

You will think together about whether it is right for you.

You will talk about possible goals for therapy.

You will also decide how long you will work together.

What happens to my Art or Music?

You might like to record music that you and therapist make together. This music you make is for you and your therapist to listen to. You can hear how things have changed over time.

When Art or Music Therapy ends you can decide what you want to keep. You can choose to not keep anything.

Your therapist will get rid of your recordings or art works safely.

If you have any questions about this, you can ask your Therapist.

Will other people know what is happening in my Therapy Sessions?

Your Therapist will respect your privacy. They will only talk to people who need to know about your therapy.

Your Art and Music and what you talk about is kept private.

If your therapist is worried about your safety or the safety of someone else, they may have to tell someone. They will speak to you about this if it happens.