Drawing and Talking therapy is a gentle intervention therapy for children, young people and adults, allowing them to discover and communicate emotions through a non-directed technique.
Developed in the early 2000s, Drawing and Talking therapy is now used by mental health services as an alternative to solution or talk-focused therapies which can be confronting or limiting when processing difficult situations.
Through a 12-week cycle of 30-minute one-to-one sessions, this non-intrusive approach allows individuals to process emotional pain resulting from trauma or life experiences. The child or adult utilises drawing as a way to help them express their feelings differently from ordinary verbal language.
I have been working as a Drawing and Talking Therapy Practitioner since 2022. My youngest client was 6 and I’ve also worked with adults. The reasons for coming for Drawing and Talking Therapy are varied and have included; dealing with bereavement, navigating divorcing parents, issues around school anxiety and processing ill health and disabilities.
These very big topics are gently processed through Drawing and Talking. Our talk focuses on the picture and is led by the individual as our relationship develops over the sessions the pictures and talk changes too. Huge progress can be made over the 12 weeks. Some children are calmer, others are more open to discussing things at home, or just seem to have a weight lifted. They all enjoy having a totally safe space to express themselves.
Drawing and Talking therapy helps alleviate:
- Stress or anxiety
- Phobias
- Lack of confidence
- Feeling sad or withdrawn
- Argumentative
- Suffering from loss or bereavement
- Issues connecting with others / navigating friendships
- Changes within family
- Sleep issues
- And more
Drawing skills are not a requirement – sometimes individuals doodle little pictures or symbols while others draw something more complex. We do not analyse the drawings – they are purely a tool for communication and processing.
Camilla Ross offers Drawing and Talking therapy in her private therapy room in Chalfont St Peter and also online. If you are interested in how Drawing and Talking might be helpful for your child or yourself please contact Camilla here – www.seedwellness.co.uk/camillaross
