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Working Creatively

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line drawing sketch of sand tray therapy
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What is Creative Working?

Working in a creative way in the counselling room can often help people to better understand and express their thoughts and feelings, in different ways, and often without relying so heavily on verbal language. Such expression can be effective in helping people to gain greater self-awareness, and to support addressing and solving a wide range of issues. Working in this way, can be beneficial to people of all ages.  

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​You don't have to be confident in your creative abilities for this way of working to be beneficial, as it's about the creation and expression that the process brings, rather than the creation of a fantastic piece of art work for example.

 

Whilst I am trained as a counsellor - not a creative arts counsellor, I am informed in this area, through interest, passion, experience and CPD, and this allows me to combine creative activities in counselling sessions, with the more traditional talking therapy.

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Some creative ways of working that I offer clients in the counselling space, include painting, drawing, creative writing, music, shell work, puppetry and sand tray.

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  • Any kind of fun, enjoyable and creative activity can create brighter outlooks and uplifted spirits, and help a person relax into a process, which can all lead to greater self-knowledge and self-expression​​

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  • It can support recognising, exploring, processing and communicating issues, when words are either not enough, or hard to find

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  • Creative approaches can tap into the sub-conscious, creating opportunities to increase self-awareness​​

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  • It can help with emotion regulation​​

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  • ​Creativity can help to reduce stress and anxiety, increase confidence and self-esteem, enhance expression, help with emotional development, increase the ability to problem solve, and  improve communication, social skills and relationships, to name just a few things

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What are some of the Benefits of Working Creatively?

  • ​The sensory element of creative working can be hugely beneficial in itself! Touching sand for example, can actually activate sensory parts of the brain, allowing better access to emotional experiences

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  • Creative ways of working can help to keep a safe, psychological distance between a person, and difficult issues/experiences being addressed

logical vs creative brain_edited.jpg

What are some of the Benefits of Working Creatively?

  • Any kind of fun, enjoyable and creative activity can create brighter outlooks and uplifted spirits, and help a person relax into a process, which can all lead to greater self-knowledge and self-expression​​

​

  • It can support recognising, exploring, processing and communicating issues, when words are either not enough, or hard to find

​

  • Creative approaches can tap into the sub-conscious, creating opportunities to increase self-awareness​​

​

  • It can help with emotion regulation

​

  • Creativity can help to reduce stress and anxiety, increase confidence and self-esteem, enhance expression, help with emotional development, increase the ability to problem solve, and  improve communication, social skills and relationships, to name just a few things

​

  • The sensory element of creative working can be hugely beneficial in itself! Touching sand for example, can actually activate sensory parts of the brain, allowing better access to emotional experiences

​

  • Creative ways of working can help to keep a safe, psychological distance between a person, and difficult issues/experiences being addressed

What are some of the issues that creative work can help with? 

Anxiety

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Grief

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Detachment

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Bullying

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Emotional/Physical Abuse

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Relationship Issues

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Depression

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Stress

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Anger

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Sexual assault​

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Difficult Emotions

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Low self-esteem/confidence

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Trauma

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Difficulties with expression

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What are some of the issues that creative work can help with? 

Anxiety

​

Grief

​

Detachment

​

Bullying

​

Emotional/Physical Abuse

​

Relationship Issues

​

Depression

​

Stress

​

Anger

​

Sexual assault​

​

Difficult Emotions

​

Low self-esteem/confidence

​

Trauma

​

Difficulties with expression

​

Who can benefit from Creative Work?

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  • People of any age!​

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  • Anybody needing a safe environment in which they’re able to express emotional issues that they find difficult putting into

words​

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  • Those who enjoy being creative

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  • Those with a history of trauma​

​

  • Anybody who has trouble articulating their thoughts and

feelings​​

  • Children and adolescents can often benefit from creative work, because their intellectual, emotional and linguistic development may cause them to struggle to express complex thoughts and feelings, with words alone​

​​

  • People who struggle to work with abstract ideas​

Who can benefit from Creative Work?

  • People of any age!​

​

  • Anybody needing a safe environment in which they’re able to express emotional issues that they find difficult putting into words​

​

  • Those who enjoy being creative

​

  • Those with a history of trauma​

​

  • Anybody who has trouble articulating their thoughts and feelings

​

  • People who struggle to work with abstract ideas​

​

  • Children and adolescents can often benefit from creative work, because their intellectual, emotional and linguistic development may cause them to struggle to express complex thoughts and feelings, with words alone

open book with stars popping out of it_e
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