MINDFUL ART

What happens in a session?

 

After having met you and discussed your situation I may suggest a possible contract length e.g; three initial sessions followed by a review. It may be that for you a fortnightly session would be most helpful for you. It is important that you really consider how entering a period of self-exploration may impact on other areas of your life and how to support yourself to gain the most benefit from the process. At the beginning of therapy you will be getting acquainted with the therapist, familiarising yourself with the materials and the session format as well as looking into your presenting issue.

 

Sessions typically last for 1-1 ½ hrs

 

The type of therapy you are most comfortable with is something we can talk about in our first session together- this is sometimes called an 'intake' session. (If you are bringing a child or young person to see me, I will usually ask that we have a session together first, so I can get an overview of your concerns.) Each individual circumstance can be different and I am flexible on arrangements as required.

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Cost

 

Individual Sessions: Each session is tailored for your individual needs and your first session usually runs for 60 to 90 mins costing $90 with following sessions 60 mins at $80 per session

 

Students Sessions: A discounted fee of $50 per session is available to all student for the College of Complementary Medicine as well as for other students who require counseling sessions during their studies, Skype sessions are also available 

 

Skype Sessions: At times when you cant make it to a session at the studio I also provide Skype sessions. Sessions usually run for  60 to 90 mins at $70.00

 

 

How treatment can occur - guideline

Initial Assessment 
Assessment comes at the beginning of art therapy and happens during the first session that the therapist has with the client. Assessment is used by the therapist to find out what the client is going through, and to gain any other information that she may wish to find out about the client. It is important to be very up-front at this time with the client, being very clear that the session is not treatment oriented, but is for assessment purposes. Assessment at the beginning of therapy is an important first step because it is at this point that the therapist will decide if art therapy is a good option for the client or if it would be a waste of time.

 

Treatment 
The very first thing that needs to happen during the first session of treatment is for the therapist to establish a good rapport with the client. This allows for the development of trust in the relationship.Then the art therapist can introduce art therapy to the client by giving back-round information about art therapy and answering any questions that the client may have. This first piece of art that the client creates is a very important one because it sets the tone for the rest of the session. Because many people have art anxiety in these beginning sessions, it is important that the client feel as comfortable as possible. 

 

Termination 

The termination of art therapy is initiated abruptly and clearly. Either the art therapist or the client can initiate the termination of the art therapy. Termination is generally decided upon when the therapist or the client realizes that the therapy is finite. 

 

 

Use of Relaxation techniques

People also need to be able to relax in order to ‘get into’ imaginative journeys. The main point of many of these journeys and visualisations is to tap unacknowledged parts of the person and become aware of them, such as hidden needs or strengths. At the lightest level, members of the group just close their eyes so that they can ‘see’ the images in the story as the facilitator tells it. A useful mid-level of relaxation can be reached by asking people to sit in easychairs, or back to back on the floor, and going through some simple relaxation exercises. The extent to which this is possible depends on the people concerned.This can be used on several different levels: for instance, as story-telling with children or people with learning disabilities, to stimulate their imagination; or as an approach to any theme for adults, to help them feel their way into it. 

 

 

Guided Visualisation

When people are relaxed the facilitator tells a story consisting mainly of images, concentrating on the sorts of details that enable people to bring back memories or to visualise their own version of what is being described. 

 

IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS IN RELATION TO A SESSION PLEASE ASK!