Do you need individual help but can't find an English-speaking therapist near you?

Why not try art-therapy? My approach is that of art-as-therapy - I believe that art-making and creativity have a huge potential to help you get better.

If you feel reluctant to talk about your problems, that's fine : you don't need to. And you don't need to have the slightest bit of artistic talent or skill to reap the benefits of art-therapy.

What can art-therapy do for me?

Art-therapy focuses on the part of you which is preserved from ailment and disease to help you get through ailment and disease.

But why would dropping shapeless globs of paint on a piece of paper have ANY effect on your mental and physical health? There is a host of reasons for that and I will explain it in detail soon. Also, there is more to art-therapy than globs of paint :-D

Art-therapy is great if:

- You are feeling depressed and/or have anxiety, whether officially diagnosed or not.

- You are experiencing overwhelming emotions, have hypersensitivities and/or have trouble pointing out precisely what emotions and feelings you are experiencing.

- You have been through tough life experiences which are sitting heavy on your chest yet you struggle to put them into words.

- You have been diagnosed with an illness and need to process the bad news and upcoming changes in your life. Art-therapy won't even try to make you believe that everything's rosy and ''an opportunity'' but it will help you express your anger, frustration and fear in order to free up space for the inner strenght which you will need to go forward. And that's huge.

- Your self-esteem and self-confidence are too low and it's impairing you in your daily life.

- You've been going around in circles with your therapist and feel that words are getting you nowhere (yes, you can bring what you draw or paint with me to your therapist to talk about it!). The beauty of art-therapy is that it is non-confrontational. You could be writing a cheeky limerick just for the fun of it while your body would be doing its own thing on what really matters without you interfering.

- Your therapist can't see you as often as you need.

- You need help to get better for any other reason.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can art-therapy replace traditional medical care?

Absolutely not. Art-therapy is great at helping you heal better and faster... provided you follow your doctor's prescription. In fact it is of great help if you have a diagnosis as it will help me help you. But I am not qualified to diagnose you nor will I try to. Art-therappy works on your motivation and self-esteem, which by getting a boost have a positive effect on healing, but it does not get rid of disease.

I want an appointment. What happens next?

The first time we meet, I will spend time getting to know you and will ask you questions meant to help me set up your personal goals and activities. You will also be able to ask any question you wish to make sure that art-therapy will work for you and that you feel comfortable working with me.

Then you will be shown a selection of tools and mediums and will get to try out a couple.

When you come back for your second session, we will take a few minutes to exchange on how you feel, then I will offer you instructions or a choice of instructions and you will get to work. I will be there to help you if need be and you will be free to express what you feel or keep it to yourself. At the end of the session, you will have the chance to talk about what you just created but it is not mandatory. If you feel like talking a lot, it's OK too!

How many sessions do I need to sign up for?

There is never any number of required sessions. While results may not show before five or six sessions or more in certain cases, you may also feel relieved immediately. There is no definite rule and you never have to pay for a number of sessions in advance.

However, know that art-therapy is usually not intended as a long-term commitment. If you have a specific goal, you can book appointments for a few weeks, then stop, and come back months or years later when a new goal arises.

Some people end up enjoying their appointments even after they have reached their goals, if only because they enjoy having a quiet, safe haven. As long as this is no financial trouble for you, that's fine.

Are all appointments individual?

Mostly they are. However, some goals are best worked on in group settings. This can be arranged if enough clients share a common goal.

What happens to my creations?

In art-therapy, we call them ''productions''. They are your property and you decide if you want to keep them or destroy them at the end of your session or after your last appointment. Anything you want to keep is held in my workshop in a secure cupboard away from prying eyes. They will NEVER be shared on the Internet without your consent. I do not use social media for one thing so that's one concern out of the way! Even when working with my supervisor (as I am required to do by my profession's Order), I will ask for your consent before I share your production.

I suck at art/can't draw/haven't touched a paint tube since kindergarten

That's fine. Really. It's your fundamental right to get in touch with your untapped creativity and you can produce powerful drawings with wobbly stick-men, it works just as well, and arguably better, than any work of art. In fact whereas you will need to get over your fear of being no artist, an actual artist will need to ''unlearn'' their technical skills in order to allow their deepest inner self to take the reins. Yes, art-therapy will make you work on yourself, it's not only fun and games! But you will enjoy reaping the results of your hard work all the more.

Are there risks attached to art-therapy?

Just like in any other therapeutical setting, when you start feeling comfortable and allow yourself to let go, some feelings, thoughts or memories that were lurking just below the surface of your consciousness might appear in your productions. This can feel frightening or hurtful, but you know the old saying: better out than in. Only then can you hope to feel better and lighter down the line. If something really big reveals itself to you, I will let you know whether you need extra help. In any case, I will show you how to contain troublesome situations before they get out of hand. You will not be left alone to cope with whatever has come up.

That being said, no need to panic. It is unlikely that some deep dark revelation will appear out of the blue like in movies.