What is art therapy?
Art therapy uses visual language to express and explore overwhelming, painful and/or cognitively inaccessible feelings and sensations that are difficult to put into words. Expression through art bypasses defense mechanisms and through non-verbal communication, using metaphors and symbols, participates in the therapeutic process. Working with art materials helps the client to express himself and relax, while following the creative process the therapist gets a clearer picture of the problems the client is facing, which helps in shaping the therapy plan. By using different techniques and materials, the client comes into contact with multiple levels of his personality: kinesthetic-sensory, perceptual-affective, cognitive-symbolic and creative.
Try art therapy
+385 1 3300 505 or
+385 99 162 6579 or
What age group isart therapy intended for?
Art therapy is suitable for all age groups – children, youth and adults. For older children and adults, depending on the difficulties they are dealing with, this kind of work offers the possibility of personal insight as a basis for potential change (“Art therapy” approach). For younger children and those with developmental difficulties, artistic activity is a valuable communication channel and help in coping with the sensations and feelings they experience, which they cannot understand or explain (“Art as a therapy” approach).
Book an art therapist appointment for your child
+385 1 3300 505 or
+385 99 162 6579 or
+385 1 3300 505 or
+385 99 162 6579 or
What does an art therapy session look like?
An individual art therapy session consists of a short introductory conversation, an artistic expression process, and a conversation about the process and art work. Through a therapist-directed conversation, the language of shapes, colors, metaphors and symbols establishes a connection with the client’s current internal and external reality and/or with previously lived experiences. Depending on the age and difficulties of the client, art therapy includes play, grounding techniques, body-oriented exercises or practical exercises of a cognitive-behavioral approach. Therapies are held at weekly intervals. Also, if it is a child, it is possible for one or both parents or guardians to be present and participate in the artistic process. Sometimes the therapist will ask for it – it is then called family art therapy.
What is the differencebetween art therapy sessionsand creative workshops?
Art therapy is very different in approach, process and goals from a creative workshop or an art class and can only be performed by a professionally trained art therapist. Instead of skill and aesthetic or artistic quality of art work, art therapy focuses on the art process and its guidance and direction in order to reduce specific biopsychosocial difficulties in the client.
To participate in an art therapy session, no previous experience of working with art supplies and materials is required.
At the Salvea Polyclinic, you can book an appointment for art therapy:
Individual art therapy for children and young people + consultations
During the session, the child or young person can explore and express their emotions, thoughts, experiences and needs in a relaxed and direct way through a creative process with the therapist. If a person under the age of 18 is in therapy, half-hour consultations with parents are also conducted at the beginning of therapy and after 4 to 6 sessions. Art therapy can also be conducted online.
1 hour for children over 10 years old
Arrange a first meeting
+385 1 3300 505 or
+385 99 162 6579 or
Consultations with parents
In parallel with art therapy sessions with children, parental consultations with the therapist are welcome with the aim of exchanging experiences, i.e. achieving a deeper understanding of a certain difficulty through viewing it from multiple points of view. In this way, the plan of therapeutic work will be available to the parents at all times, and the therapist will be able to monitor the effect of the therapy and get answers to questions about family dynamics that can further help him in working with the child.
Arrange a consultation
+385 1 3300 505 or
+385 99 162 6579 or
+385 1 3300 505 or
+385 99 162 6579 or
Individual art therapy forparents and guardians
Parenthood is one of the most beautiful roles in life, but it can also be challenging. Exhaustion, worry, fear and other negative emotions and conditions contribute to the development of stress. Art therapy provides an experience of insight and better understanding of oneself and one’s inner world through the creative process with an accompanying conversation with the therapist.
1 hour
Book an appointment
+385 1 3300 505 or
+385 99 162 6579 or
Family art therapy
We often forget that we were all children once and that there is still a playful child hiding inside each of us. In family art therapy, members of the immediate family participate, who through creative work under the guidance of the therapist strengthen emotional ties and develop new forms of communication.
1 hour
Arrange a first meeting
+385 1 3300 505 or
+385 99 162 6579 or
+385 1 3300 505 or
+385 99 162 6579 or
Group art therapy
In addition to individual art therapy at the Salvea Polyclinic, we also conduct group art therapy sessions with people of different ages and characteristics. Thus, there are art therapy groups for parents, for children (peer groups) or for parents with children. Groups consist of 5 to 10 participants.
Pre-register for the group
+385 1 3300 505 or
+385 99 162 6579 or