Adults

• may be fed up / getting nowhere with talking only therapies
• have very traumatic issues that they can't / don't want to talk about
• have "preverbal" trauma  ie before the age of two to two and a half years old
• new to therapy but feel more drawn to using imagery and creative media

Adolescents

• talking / asking questions doesn't work, more creative ways are needed to help them open up

Children

• make sense of their world through play
• express themselves imaginatively
• don't want / know how to sit and talk about their issues

Families

• use of imagery, particularly sand tray and drawing can help reveal hidden dynamics and provide a focus for engagement

Particular issues where using the arts can be beneficial

• bereavement
• divorce / relationships
• anxiety / panic attacks
• depression
• bullying
• school exclusion
• sexual issues / sexual abuse
• anger management
• chronic illness - emotional effect
• cut off from feelings
• inexplicable mood swings

Quote from a six year old who had undergone arts psychotherapy:-

" It's good to get your feelings out. You tell people how much you feel so they'll understand and share their feelings with you. You're supposed to let feelings out so other people will know how you feel. Life doesn't belong to you but to other people too"
McNiff "The Arts and Psychotherapy"