Art therapy

New moon on its back by Dawne
Solomons

Michèle Wood, State Registered Art Therapist at the Marie Curie Hospice, Hampstead writes: Art therapy is offered as part of the psychosocial care of our patients here at Marie Curie Hospice, Hampstead. Thoughts or concerns that cannot easily be spoken of – for whatever reason – can find expression through art therapy, and feelings such as isolation, indignity or despair can be overcome.

With the support of a therapist, a person can use the art media to communicate and reflect on things that feel confusing or contradictory, and gain a clearer understanding of themselves and their situation.

Individual art therapy sessions are arranged on a contractual basis usually comprising weekly hour-long sessions over six weeks. On the fifth session there is a review of the therapy and together patient and therapist decide if there is a need to continue past the sixth session, or indeed if the patient may need the support of a different member of the hospice’s interdisciplinary team.

The pictures in An Art Therapy Journey are a testament to Dawne Solomons who wished to encourage others living with a life-threatening condition by sharing in this book something of her personal story.