What are Arts Therapies?

‘Arts Therapies’ is the collective term for;

  • Play Therapy
  • Music Therapy
  • Art Therapy
  • Dramatherapy

Art Therapies provide the individual with the space and security to explore psychological aspects of various mental health issues.


Our Arts Therapists can combine the above therapies to facilitate a deeper exploration of the young person or adult.  The individual can either explore the art form with which they most identify or the art form can mould to the individual as their therapy needs change during the therapeutic process. The therapist will work with the client to evaluate and identify the key motivators for each client and to use these forms of therapy to achieve the best outcomes.

Some clients therefore will respond best through combining Play Therapy and Art Therapy, others perhaps through just a single form e.g Music Therapy.

By implementing an art form within the psychological therapy, the individual can explore their needs using distancing tools and metaphor.  This allows for another less direct ‘avenue if more ‘talking’ based therapy is not suitable.  This can be particularly effective for individuals who find verbalisation difficult or are unable to communicate verbally.

The flexibility of the art forms allows the individual to take control of their therapeutic progress, make safe mistakes and test new perspectives/behaviours in a highly supported and objective manner.

Our therapists practice within a client-centred framework and will offer directive and non-directive therapy according to the individual needs of the client.

All of our Arts Therapists are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, the regulator for Health Professions.

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Arts Therapies are frequently required by children, adolescents and adults to support them across the following specialist fields;

  • Self-esteem and self-image
  • Mood disorders
  • Self-Harm
  • ADHD
  • Emotional and behavioural difficulties
  • Autistic Spectrum Disorders
  • Eating difficulties and fussy eaters
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Autistic spectrum disorders
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Down syndrome
  • Speech and language delay/disorder
  • Acquired Brain Injury ABI
  • Traumatic Brain Injury TBI
  • Learning difficulties
  • Physical disabilities
  • Emotional behavioural difficulties
  • Psychiatric needs
  • Attachment difficulties
  • Learning Disability Support Centres
  • Loss & Bereavement
  • Forensic settings
  • EAL and refugee services

Arts Therapists believe that through creative expression and tapping of the imagination, a person can explore aspects of;

  • Their body
  • Their feelings
  • Their behaviours
  • Their reactions
  • Their emotions
  • Their thought process


Who can Arts Therapists help?

It is felt that this creative approach can help a number of children, young people and adults who have communication and or social/emotional needs.

Therapists have equally used this approach to support children and young adults with brain injuries, learning difficulties and/or who are an the Autistic Spectrum. Therapists have witnessed some fantastic outcomes for this group of clients.


What are the benefits to the client?

Clients learn to develop;

  • An awareness of self
  • Creativity
  • Confidence
  • Independence
  • Identification of goals
  • Relaxation methods
  • Anxiety and stress relief
  • Self-esteem
  • Concentration
  • Attention and listening skills

In a group session clients learn to develop;

  • Awareness of others
  • Communication skills
  • Group cohesion
  • A sense of self
  • Social skills
  • Building Trust
  • Listening Skills
  • Attention Skills

How do the sessions run

Sessions can be purchased by a family and can take place in the family home, the client’s educational setting or in our clinic. Adult’s can purchase therapy directly for themselves. Educational and Care establishments can contract services in sessions to take place within the setting. Therapists can work with individuals and/or groups. They are trained to joint coach and skill up support staff, so that these sessions can be repeated at different times across the week, to generalise the skills learnt.


What approaches do Arts Therapists offer?

  • Six Part Story Method
  • Dramatic Enactment
  • Movement
  • Storytelling
  • E.P.R (Embodiment, Role and Projection)
  • Mask work
  • Puppetry and puppet making
  • Myths and fairytales
  • Character development
  • Dramatic enactment
  • Improvisation
  • Sand play
  • Play therapy
  • Myths and fairy tales
  • Sensory Percussive Music


Accessing Arts Therapies

Integrated Treatment Services are able to offer appointments within one week of referral and will not keep you waiting for therapy.  We do not hold waiting lists so if we are unable to see you immediately we will help sign post you to a service which can.

Integrated Treatment Services will always support you accessing the statutory services (Health/Education) which you are entitled to.  We can top up therapy when statutory services are not available to you.  We can work alongside statutory services forming joint therapy plans, when approaches you would like to access are not readily provided for.  You can equally choose to contract our services as an alternative to statutory services, which is common practice for many schools/care settings, commissioners and individuals.

Integrated Treatment Services are registered with all the large insurance companies, therefore if you have insurance cover you may wish to check your policy to see if you can access assessment and therapy. Registered providers include: BUPA, Aviva, AXA/PPP

Integrated Treatment Services are active partners with charities and vouchers schemes which enable our clients to access our therapy.

We are happy to work with all charities schemes such as Cerebra.


If you require support from an Arts Therapist or would like further questions answered call us on 0845 838 2921.

Get in touch today