“Expressive arts therapy uses various arts – movement, drawing, painting, sculpting, music, writing, sound, and improvisation – in a supportive setting to facilitate growth and healing. It is a process of discovering ourselves through any art form that comes from an emotional depth.” (Carl Rogers, 1993)

Expressive Arts Therapists use the creative process to facilitate clients to find a sense of confidence and security, express deep feelings, recognize new aspects of their own psychology, and treat specific conditions including behavioral disorders, mental disorders, and trauma.

Traditional Psychotherapy and Expressive Arts Therapy are two distinct approaches to therapeutic intervention, each with its own unique characteristics. Here are the key differences between the two approaches:

Focus and approach:

Traditional Psychotherapy: Traditional psychotherapy places emphasis on verbal communication and dialogue between the therapist and the client. It typically involves exploring thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to gain insight into psychological issues and promote healing.

Expressive Arts Therapy: Expressive Arts Therapy integrates various art forms such as visual arts, music, dance, drama, and writing into the therapeutic process. It encourages clients to engage in creative expression as a means of self-discovery, healing, and personal growth. Artistic processes and the resulting artwork are used to explore and communicate emotions, thoughts, and experiences.

Communication and language:

Traditional Psychotherapy: Verbal communication is central to traditional psychotherapy. Clients express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences through spoken words, and therapists use verbal techniques such as questioning, reflection, and interpretation to facilitate understanding and change.

Expressive Arts Therapy: In Expressive Arts Therapy, communication extends beyond verbal language. Clients use non-verbal modes of expression such as drawing, painting, movement, or sound to convey their inner experiences. Artistic symbols, metaphors, and imagery are often explored to tap into the subconscious and bypass cognitive defenses.

Therapeutic goals:

Traditional Psychotherapy: Traditional Psychotherapy aims to increase self-awareness, understanding, and insight into psychological conflicts and challenges. It often focuses on symptom reduction, emotional regulation, and developing healthier coping strategies.

Expressive Arts Therapy: Expressive Arts Therapy seeks to facilitate self-expression, creativity, and personal growth. It aims to promote emotional healing, enhance self-esteem, foster self-discovery, and encourage a sense of empowerment. The emphasis is on the process of creating and exploring rather than solely on problem-solving or symptom relief.

Techniques and interventions:

Traditional Psychotherapy: Traditional Psychotherapy employs various evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, or humanistic approaches like person-centered therapy. Therapists may use talk-based interventions, psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, or exploration of past experiences to facilitate change.

Expressive Arts Therapy: Expressive Arts Therapy utilizes a range of artistic activities and interventions tailored to the client’s needs. These may include drawing, painting, sculpting, guided imagery, movement improvisation, storytelling, or role-playing. Therapists focus on the creative process itself, the symbolic aspects of the artwork, and the client’s subjective experience during the art-making.

Traditional Psychotherapy and Expressive Arts Therapy are not mutually exclusive, and sometimes trained therapists may integrate elements of both approaches for the best benefits of the clients. 

Expressive Arts Therapy is a psychotherapy process combines the creative expression of the arts with psychological theories and a therapeutic relationship.  One of the most important aspects of Expressive Arts Therapy, as with traditional psychotherapy, is the relationship between the client and the well-trained licensed therapist. 

For an art class, the main goals are to learn or to experiment new art techniques for exploring creativity. 

Expressive arts therapy is based on the fundamental belief that the arts is a resource for healing.   

In a therapy session,  a therapeutic goal will be agreed between the client and the therapist.   

Each client is encouraged to use multiple forms of creative expression to connect the body, mind, and spirit.  The art forms include drawing and painting, photography, sculptures using a range of materials from clay to paper mâché, music, drama and role-play, poetry, prose, and dance and movement, to articulate the client’s inner world.  The therapist will assess the client’s condition to adopt the most appropriate art modalities to guide him/her through for emotion expression under a safe and non-judgmental environment in order to let the client realise the sources of given power and understand self potential possibilities for the ultimate healing purposes. 

The therapeutic sessions will combine talk and non-verbal therapy techniques.

The client does NOT need any knowledge or skills on the arts for benefitting in the Expressive Arts Therapy sessions.  Different art modalities are just means to facilitate the therapeutic goals.

Arts Psychotherapy can be short-term (a few weeks to months), dealing with more immediate challenges, or long-term (months to years), dealing with longstanding and complex issues. The goals of treatment and duration and frequency of treatment are discussed by the clients and therapist together.

However, through expression of the arts, the clients might feel a huge sense of relief because they are able to express their deep feeling in a more unconscious way.  They will also feel safe to have connected with someone who hears, sees, and understands.  They may immediately begin to feel more hopeful and less alone.

Suggested time for *Individual Sessions :-

• Normal session is 60 mins

                  *The first individual consultation session suggested to be half hour longer.

                  *Suggest to start with a cycle of 4 regular sessions to pave way for the therapeutic journey and review with the therapist for an effective pace of healing.

Suggested time for Group Sessions :

• 1.5 hours or upon different therapeutic goals and size of the group 

*Session Fee :

• Individual Therapy  –  HKD1,000 to HKD1,500 per 60 mins session                                                                                                         
• Group Therapy         –  approx HKD400 per client per session

                  * The fees indicated above are for reference.  The final fee will be subjected to the therapeutic stages and goals of different cases.  Concession fees can be offered to clients with financial difficulties.  Welcome for enquiries.

Sentelier welcomes clients of all ages.   There is no age limit when it comes to therapy.    Even toddlers can benefit from therapy. In fact, the earlier a child receives help, the better the outcome.  However, for children and youth under 18, consent from parents or lawful guardians is required.

Psychotherapy using expressive arts is particularly evident in children with special needs, such as those with autism, ADHD, speech impairments, PTSD, developmental disabilities or other mental and behavioral health conditions. Expression through the arts is a way to help these kids feel a sense of normalcy without judgment.  Expressive arts awaken a child’s imagination and creativity to help him discover who he is and how to engage his senses.  They also bring a sense of calm to the body and positively impact mindset, interpretation of surroundings and emotional state.

Emotional expression: Art allows children and adolescents to express their emotions in a non-verbal and creative way. It provides a safe outlet for them to release and process their feelings, which can be especially helpful for those who struggle with verbal expression.

Self-esteem and confidence:  When children and adolescents create something they are proud of or receive positive feedback for their artistic efforts, it can enhance their sense of accomplishment and self-worth.

Stress reduction: Art can serve as a form of relaxation and stress relief. It can help children and adolescents unwind, focus their attention, and enter a state of flow, where they are fully absorbed in the creative process and experience a sense of calm and fulfilment.

Problem-solving and critical thinking: Artistic endeavours encourage children and adolescents to think critically, make decisions, and solve problems. They learn to analyse visual information, experiment with different techniques, and make choices about colours, composition, and materials, which enhances their cognitive skills.

Communication and social skills: Participating in art activities can improve communication and social skills. Collaborative art projects, group discussions, or sharing artwork with others can foster interaction, empathy, and understanding among children and adolescents.

Self-discovery and identity formation: Through art, children and adolescents can explore their own identities, values, and beliefs. They can discover new interests, talents, and passions, which can contribute to their sense of self and personal growth.

Formal education and professional training is relatively important in this field; most Expressive Arts Therapists will need a master’s degree trained with the components on the knowledge of multi-modality therapy, psychology, psychotherapy, and/or counselling. A registered therapist should have completed no less than 750 hours practicum with clinical supervision before qualified and should have continuous professional supervision in practice. Seasoned therapists might start their own clinic, engage in non-profit making community arts therapy services in NGOs, or dedicated to academic research. 

List of Professional Members of the Expressive Arts Therapy Association of Hong Kong (EATAHK) :-

https://www.eatahk.org/memberlist

List of Professional Members of The Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA).    ANZACATA is the peak professional body that represents creative arts therapists in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia/Pacific region :- 

https://anzacata.org/FIND-A-THERAPIST

Expressive arts therapy, like any form of therapy, places great importance on privacy and confidentiality to ensure the well-being and trust of the clients. 

Any information shared by the client during therapy sessions is kept private and not disclosed to others without the client’s explicit consent. Although there will be informed photographs and/or recordings of client’s artworks taken during the therapy sessions for facilitating the therapeutic process, all written, taped, digitally (or analogue) recorded, and visual, work, or information produced by the client during the course of therapy will be safeguarded.  None of the client’s images or artworks, will be shared, exhibited or posted on any platform and social media; unless written and verbal informed consent has been obtained from the client concerned or, if under 18, their parent/ carer/guardian.

Exceptions :-

If suspected child or elderly physical or sexual abuse is observed ; or when the client’s mental and emotional state clearly indicates an immediate danger to the client and/or others, the therapist will take risk management and may notify appropriate parties without the client’s permission.

Individual Therapy Booking :-

1. Please contact us for a free consultation on phone or face-to-face.
   • Phone/Whatsapp – (852) 6801 8616
   • Email – care@sentelier.com
2. Suggest to schedule a 4 regular consecutive therapy sessions to start the therapeutic journey. 
3. After the 1st cycle, the therapist will discuss with the client on a suitable plan for the therapeutic journey.
4. Fee has to be paid in advance and no refund will be made if the clients are absent.

Group Therapy Booking :-

1. Regular thematic Group Therapy will be organised.  Please see the details here.
2. Group Therapy cycle will usually be 6 to 8 sessions.
3. Fee has to be paid in advance and no refund will be made if the clients are absent.

Please understand we usually have fixed appointment schedules with clients.  If you are late for more than 15 mins, we might not be able to extend your time for that session and we have to finish on the scheduled time.  Please call to let us know you are late and on your way so that we can try to make necessary adjustments.

If you want to cancel or absent for a booked therapy session and not able to inform us 3 hours in advance, we regret that one session’s fee will be charged.