Child art therapy

Art therapy is a gentle, safe path into a child’s feelings through colour, shape and material. The child does not need to find the “right words” — brush, clay and paper speak for them. Our job is to read this language together with the child and help them shape what they’re living through into something nameable and bearable.

We combine classic art-therapy frameworks (Winnicott, Edith Kramer) with contemporary work on childhood trauma and emotional regulation. We don’t teach drawing and we don’t grade the work — we create the conditions in which a child gradually becomes the author of their own story.

01Who this is for

• Big life events — moving, parental separation, loss, a new sibling
• Withdrawal, fears, nightmares, heightened anxiety
• Hard to put feelings into words — “I don’t know”, “I forgot”, “I’m fine”
• Stress shows up in the body — somatic complaints, tics, repetitive movements
• Low self-esteem, fear of mistakes, perfectionism
• Child has shut down — not sharing what happens at school or with peers

02How we work

We start by getting to know each other: the child explores the room, picks materials, tries different techniques. There is no theme and no homework at this stage. As the child feels safer, spontaneous motifs appear — repeated images, colours, shapes. Those repetitions become the fabric of the work. The therapist doesn’t interpret on the fly — they stay close, mirror, ask soft questions and help the child make their own discovery.

In parallel we work with parents: every 4–6 weeks we meet without the child to discuss what we’re seeing, give practical advice for home and build supports outside of therapy. Without that loop, art therapy works less well.

03Methods

• Free drawingthe basic format: child chooses what and how to draw, therapist accompanies.
• Clay and modellingtactile material is especially helpful for anxiety and expression difficulties.
• Sand traya miniature world in a tray of sand — for working with complex stories.
• Collage and imageswhen drawing “your own” feels too exposing, we build from ready images.
• Narrative techniquesa drawing plus a story about it — the child becomes the author.
• Mindfulness elementsshort breathing and grounding practices to open and close each session.

04What you get

• Lower anxiety and emotional tension
• Growing ability to name feelings and ask for support
• Healthy ways to express anger and sadness emerge
• Better sleep and reduced somatic complaints
• Child feels more valued and heard
• Parents gain practical keys to staying in contact with the child

05What a session looks like

Sessions last 50 minutes. The first 5–10 minutes are a free entry — the child settles, picks materials. The core 30–35 minutes are the creative process; the therapist holds the rhythm and focus. The last 10 minutes are a soft close: we talk about what came up and do simple rituals to step back into ordinary life. Every 4–6 weeks we meet with parents (50 minutes, without the child).

06Frequently asked