Creative Wellbeing Group

Creative Wellbeing Group in the Bournemouth area

We deliver a Creative Wellbeing Group in Christchurch for vulnerable children and young people who may have SEN, be neurodivergent or are experiencing anxiety. Our next group is for CYP who are unable to attend school full-time. Anyone can refer with the client’s consent (see below).

NEXT GROUP:

Fridays for 20 weeks, starting 6th November. 10.30-12 noon  at Christchurch Family Hub, Draper Rd BH23 3AS

What is a Creative Wellbeing Group?  The group is based on the principles of Art Therapy  –  the process of creating art with the guidance and support of a professional Art Psychotherapist.  Through the process of making art, young people can explore their inner world, develop greater self-awareness, express thoughts and feelings, access creativity and self-esteem, and better cope with stress. The opportunity to fully explore unconscious and conscious feelings using art materials in place of the pressure to communicate verbally provides an unique freedom. Art Therapy is proven to be effective in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, bereavement, mental health diagnoses, as well as difficulties related to learning or physical disabilities, neurological conditions and physical illnesses. Working within a group has the added benefits of providing opportunities for connection and group problem-solving, allowing clients to understand their part in the group and develop their relationships within it. The group is supported by a trainee Art Psychotherapist. 

Who is the group for?

Our current group is for anyone aged 13-18 yrs old in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area who is not attending school.  This group is funded by the Allen Lane Foundation.

What will we do?

We’ll spend time together thinking/talking about any difficulties we’re facing, making art about those feelings. 

We spend the first ten minutes checking in – asking how the week has been, discussing any difficulties. Then, we spend 15 minutes making art based on creative and sensory self-regulation. An example could be bilateral drawing – a technique that uses both hands and both hemispheres of the brain, having a calming effect on the brain and body. After that, we spend an hour art-making either individually or as a group. A prompt will always be offered, in case clients struggle to ‘get started’ or find it difficult to work intuitively. An example of a prompt might be ‘draw the view you’d like to see outside your window’, which is a useful exercise in thinking about change and the future.

We then re-group at the end to talk about our artwork (if we want to).

How does a Creative Wellbeing Group help me?

Working together in this way is effective in supporting people who might struggle with traditional talking therapy. Being in the group has the advantage of feeling part of a collective system with others who may be experiencing similar challenges.

How long is a session?

Each session lasts 1.5 hours

How many sessions are there?

We run 20-week blocks during term-time.

What does it cost?

The sessions are free, but we ask for a materials donation of £15 per participant (covers the 20 weeks). 

How do I refer?

Please see link below

Ellen  (Art Psychotherapist) will then call you to discuss the referral and book an initial  consultation at the venue.