The use of collage in therapy (or art for the un-artistic!)

I am interested in a range of creative approaches to support my client's work in therapy. One of my favourites is the use of collage. I've included some examples on this page which are either my own, or shared with permission.

Collage is a really accessible way of being creative and exploring subconscious ideas without too much pressure to be artistic. I was terrible at art in school and dropped it as soon as I could. I was told I couldn't draw or paint and no attention was given to the process of being creative, just whether the outcome pleased the teacher. For me, this is the opposite of what being artistic means.

As an adult I have found a lot of joy in the artistic process. Collage is a way of using old scraps of paper to create something new. The process is one of destruction and recreation; ripping up an old magazine and transforming it into something new.

This process of change mirrors the therapeutic process in that clients are supported to dismantle old ways of being, or release that which no longer serves them and instead, allow something new and different and exciting to emerge.

If you're considering contacting me for therapy and are interested in creative ways of working, including collage, please do get in touch.