Art Psychotherapy pilot begins at Moya Cole Hospice
The funding for the Art Psychotherapy group came from the Creative Health Trust
A pilot art psychotherapy group has started at Moya Cole Hospice thanks to funding from the Creative Health Trust.
The group has been running for four weeks now and is attended by six different outpatients at the hospice with life-limiting illnesses.
Jennie from Kindfull is the facilitator of the sessions at Moya Cole Hospice.
“Art Psychotherapy can be used for many different reasons. It can be used for bereavement and can be used across different areas. It’s an alternative to talking therapy,” Jennie said.
“We’re often not very good at talking about death or dying, it’s not really in our culture. Creative therapies allow people to explore some of their difficult feelings that aren’t easy to articulate.
You’re using a completely different part of your brain in art therapy. You’re doing creative work. You’re accessing an unconscious, non-literal, non-logical part of your brain. Something can appear on the page, and suddenly it’s very visible, and it’s how we process what’s on the page Jennie Longbottom, Art Psychotherapist, KindFull
Stan is an outpatient taking part in the art therapy sessions and says he is getting a lot out of them.
“I found it difficult at the start, but Jennie really helped me to do things that I couldn’t do. I really get a lot out of coming to the hospice. I’ve been attending other courses at the BYC since last year and they are just brilliant. Everyone who works here is brilliant,” Stan said.
Amanda is another outpatient taking part in the sessions; she has motor neurone disease and uses different crafts in each session. Due to the nature of her disease she has to type on a tablet to communicate. She is not able to talk and create art at the same time.
“Jennie is great at exploring our thoughts with what we’ve drawn or stuck together,” Amanda said.
I was always rubbish at art, but I like creating by sticking different pieces together. It’s harder for me to join in sometimes as can’t talk and do art at the same time Amanda , Outpatient, Moya Cole Hospice
“I previously took part in the social group course at the hospice and I’m hoping to go back to that when I’m finished the art therapy course,” she added.
Being You Centre Team Leader at Moya Cole Hospice, Amanda Connors said it’s great to be able to bring art psychotherapy to the hospice.
“We are very grateful to the Creative Health Trust, who have kindly funded the full cost of the programme. Art therapy is such a great way for people to open up about their difficult feelings and I am delighted we are able to host it in the hospice,” she said.
You can learn more about KindFull by visiting their website, here. Or you can follow them on Instagram @kindfull.space.