An Arts Therapist helps people to express difficult thoughts and feelings through creative activities.

Within ELDP we offer three forms of the arts therapies: art, drama and music. The arts therapies are a psychological therapy that use art, music or drama as a way of enabling people to communicate and understand difficult feelings in a safe and supportive environment. They provide a creative process through which people who use our services can express themselves and become more aware of their emotions, their thoughts and how they behave. One of the main aims is to help people who use our services to develop functional ways of relating to others. The Arts Therapies are for people who communicate in both verbal and non-verbal ways.

You do not need to be good at art, music or drama or have previous experience of them to benefit from the arts therapies. The aim is not to produce skilful art or accomplished performances, instead the process of creating art/music/drama is used to express, explore and manage what you are feeling. Arts therapists encourage you to work at a level and a pace that is comfortable for you and help to create a safe space where you feel able to express yourself. We may be able to help you with past traumatic experiences; disturbing thoughts or experiences; feelings of depression; distress and de-motivation; why you want to withdraw or avoid social contact; why you feel what you feel; difficulties you may have relating to others and difficulties with communication.