Creative Therapies for Mood Disorders
About Creative Therapies for Mood Disorders
This 12-week course for Individuals interested in discovering how art making can be used as a reflective and therapeutic tool to support mental health and wellbeing. No previous experience with art making is required and patients do not need to describe themselves as artistic or creative to participate. This program may be useful in exploring individual emotional and psychological needs.
This program may be suitable for you if:
- If you find talk-based therapies difficult and hard to focus.
- Are curious about creative processes and alternative therapies.
- You are feeling stressed and overwhelmed with many thoughts moving through your mind.
- You are open to creative processes and interested in expanding your creative self
- You feel disconnected with yourself and often feel low in mood.
Program content
Each week group members explore a new theme and use expressive art to process and expand on the self. Themes include:
- My Creative Journey
- Self-care
- Validation
- Authenticity
- Values
- Challenging perfectionism
- Emotions, Strengths
- Identity
- Goals
- Moving forward and Reflection.
What you will experience
This expressive arts program is less about skills and techniques but rather focusses on creativity as self-expression in a therapeutic space. Participants are guided through an experiential, reflective process to gain self-awareness and personal insight. Each week participants process a personal theme by creating response artwork. Group members explore personal and emotional issues by creating and reflecting on art within a supportive community.
Treatment objectives
Objective 1
Use mindful and sensory art processes to regulate emotions and develop self-awareness.
Objective 2
Use art as a way to explore inner and outer psychological worlds.
Objective 3
Use art as a tool of personal development, insight and psychoeducation.
Objective 4
Use art as a tool for creative expression and social connections.
Objective 5
Experiment and explore a variety of creative processes to build resilience, problem solving and flexible thinking.
Objective 6
Develop a sense of community and belonging through shared creative experiences.
What's included
Education
To develop or refine new skills and strategies.
Action Plans
Step-by-step activities to help you put new skills into practice.
Extra Resources
Tools to help you overcome common challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will find this program helpful?
People who are experiencing mental health challenges and are curious about creative processes to support emotional regulation, connection to self and expand reflective abstract thinking.
When does this treatment start, and how long does it take?
The program is designed to be completed within 12 weeks. Participants attend sessions every Monday from 9:15am to 3:00pm. Morning tea and lunch is provided.
How much does it cost?
Patients are admitted as a day patient and as such, can claim their attendance via their health fund. Privately paying is also an option. We ask that patients confirm any applicable out-of-pocket excess or gap costs directly with Belmont Private Hospital by calling 07 3398 0111.
