Arts Therapies

What is Arts Therapies?

NHS Arts Therapies provide evidenced based person-centred psychological therapies to young people who do not find words easy when describing, understanding, or managing their feelings or experiences.

The use of the art form (art and music) can support a trusting relationship to develop, providing young people with an experience of feeling listened to and understood. Working in the sessions with the therapist enables opportunities to build resilience and move towards growth and change – adapting to each individual’s needs and goals. The Arts Therapist will also work in close collaboration with the family and school.

Arts Therapies aims align closely with the principles of GIRFEC by keeping the young person at the centre of the intervention being offered and fully involved in decisions about their care, understanding and responding to each child’s unique needs and working in a way which is accessible and at times therapy can even be fun!

Who is Arts Therapies for?

Children are identified through the East Lothian Mental Health & Wellbeing Single Point of Access and will be offered therapy in school. NHS Lothian Arts Therapies are for those 12 and under.

Children may benefit from the Arts Therapies if they have:

• Identified significant emotional or mental health needs

• Difficulties in expressing or managing emotions

• Difficulties in relationships

• Adverse childhood experience or trauma

• Difficulties access verbal therapies