Home  Forthcoming Events  Why Art Therapy  Works  Personal Therapy for  Adults  Child/Adolescent  Therapy      Adolescents      What Happens?  Workshops, Courses  & Retreats  Facilities & Location  Contact & Bookings  Links  Soul Paintings for  Sale by Jean Beolan  Gascoigne Child Therapy  Child and Adolescent Therapy Art Therapy Works provides a safe and secure space for children and adolescents to explore difficult issues that may have evolved from the many incidents that take place in a young person's life. As adults we often forget that what we think as being a small problem can be a huge issue to a young person such as losing friends and being bullied at school, a teacher shouting at them, being worried about the next school test, family arguments, a pet sick or dying. These are just some of the many issues that can affect the development, confidence, self esteem and happiness of a child's world. Other issues that can cause harm to a young person's development are parental divorce or separation, family bereavement, physical or sexual abuse, drug and alcoholic misuse, a new sibling being born. Children and adolescents need to express how they are feeling. They need to be heard without interruption, so that they can begin to understand the sometimes confusing world they live in. Short excerpt from a process with a 11yr old girl An 11 year old girl came to art therapy experiencing difficult relationships at school. Her best friend was taken off her by another girl... She makes friends with another girl and the same things happens again, leaving her feeling alone and isolated...she does not have anyone to sit next to in class. The girl decided to use pastels to show the class combinations. Whilst drawing she expresses her frustration and anger going over and over again the combinations. This becomes a regular feature of her sessions and below is one example. Children and adolescents need to find a balance between tension and relaxation, sadness and happiness, confidence and humility. Often children need help in understanding why and how things have happened the way they have. Art, sandplay and puppet therapy provides children and adolescents with an alternative to talking. Often they don't understand why they are feeling the way they do. They can't find the words to express what it's like living in their world. Most children and adolescents enjoy being creative especially when there is no competition or expectation to produce a "pretty picture" or to get it "right". Art Therapy Works provides an emotional and supportive place where young people can be free to explore and talk spontaneously about their problems, fears and anxieties without feeling judged or awkward about what they are saying. Through this process they are enabled to gain in confidence, self esteem and discover who they are in relationship to the world around them. If you would like any more information please contact me.

Jean Beolan Gascoigne - Art Therapy Works - Art Psychotherapist - MSc Art Therapy - Cert. Educational and Therapeutic Application of the Arts - B.A. Hons Fine Art - BTEC Dip. Art Design - Cert. Counselling Apple Tree Studio, 15 Collin Heights, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, BT38 8NU Tel: 07966 434499 Email: jean@art-therapy-works.com