Working through distress when words are hard to find
Distress, low confidence, anxiety, depression or hopelessness don’t just impact wellbeing, they can hold you back from participating in activities you love and forming the healthy relationships you want. Art therapy might be the answer to working through the feelings and perceptions.
12 Nov 2024
November is Arts in Health Month and recognises the importance of self expression as a means of addressing mental health and emotional issues to work towards a more hopeful future.
So often the definition of health is focussed only on the physical, but emotions and mental health have a huge impact on wellbeing as well. As the World Health Organisation defines it, “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not just the absence of disease or infirmity”.
Kitsiri DeSilva is an art therapist working at Armadale Head to Health, a walk-in community mental health centre providing free counselling and therapy to adults in Perth’s south.
He uses art therapy with clients in groups or individually to help them process issues, express emotions, discover strengths and explore how to resolves issues.
“Clay, painting, drawing, collage, mask, movement or drama can all be used to assist clients to feel safe accessing vulnerable parts of themselves,” Kitsiri says.
“It’s not about perfecting a technique, but a process of exploration and experimentation. Expression through art can be energising and uplifting, it can help release frustration and anxiety, and break the cycle of repetitive thinking.”
Kitsiri says no art experience or knowledge are necessary because art therapy is a space to be spontaneous and let out what’s inside when words might be hard to find.
“Exercising the imagination and creativity helps people get out of their head and into their heart and body. Expression through art can help people look at themselves and their situation in different, helpful and healthy ways,” he says.
“They can explore different ways of perceiving life, issues, themselves and engage in creative problem-solving.”
In a world that can sometimes feel geared towards denying emotion and valuing busynesss, Kitsiri says participation in creative therapies allows adults to be creative, use their imagination and even access their “playful self”.
Head to Health has four Perth locations: Armadale, Midland, Gosnells and Mirrabooka. All services are provided for free and no appointment, referral or Medicare card are needed. To find out more, see our art therapy brochure, call 1800 595 212 or go to sjog.org.au/headtohealth.
Pictured in article: Head to Health art therapists Kitsiri (left) and Paul use creative techniques to help people identify and express emotions on their mental health journey.
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