ArtTherapy4All - Blog

How to create a group artwork with older adults living with Dementia

12/8/2019

Art Therapy is not just an activity, its a way of helping
to stimulate and preserve mental capacity along with maintaining dexterity to improve quality of life. Art Therapy4all offer weekly groups for older adults living with Dementia.
In this activity, group members were invited to draw an outline of their hand and then decorate it in a way that expressed something about themselves... using paints, pastels or any medium of their choice.
Art therapist, Fi Grainger explains:
"I then photocopied their artwork, before cutting each one out and and pasting together to form the petals of flowers in a vase. I added some sheet music as a background to reflect the fact that this group also enjoys singing together during our art therapy sessions."

Please note: Names have been blurred out to maintain confidentiality.

Top 5 reasons why art therapy can help with dementia

4/7/2019

At Art Therapy4all we are promoting art therapy through our 'Beyond Words Project' as a way to help people living with Dementia. Art therapy can:

1. Enable adjustment to changing self image
2. Encourage expression of emotions
3. Build creativity and self-confidence
4. Help distract the mind from pain and discomfort
5. Achieve a sense of freedom and self awareness

Find out more about our Beyond Words Project. Providing Art Therapy groups for Older Adults in care homes. In partnership with Alzheimer's Society Dementia-friendly communities.

SPECIAL OFFER: Get 10 weeks FREE art therapy when you sign up for 3 terms.

‘The Secret Garden’

1/7/2019

Art therapist, Elaine Homer writes: This art therapy exhibit comprises a selection of the artwork created as part of the 'Beyond Words: Art therapy for Older Adults Project' and is a celebration of the end of our first term.
Artworks on show were created from imagination or by looking at flowers and paintings in the sessions and reminiscing about their visits to art galleries, gardens or their favourite artists.
The group’s influences included Chinese watercolours, Van Gogh, Kandinsky and a replica painting from Ben Uri Museum, Dora Holzandler, (pictured above) with its lively patterns and textiles.
The art in the show explores an array of colours, patterns and styles inspired by nature; evoking different emotions, the seasons and natural forms through figurative and abstract art.

Celebrating the end of term...

1/7/2019

The end of June saw some of the care homes who had participated in our 'Beyond Words: Art Therapy for older adults project' celebrating the end of their first term with a display of their artwork.

Art therapist, Helen Cooper says:
"The group evolved throughout the 10 weeks and by the end there was cooperation, thoughtfulness and encouragement demonstrated by all the group members.
One particular client always expressed gratitude at the end of each session and the artworks speak for themselves.
I am looking forward to the next 2 terms to see what magic the residents can come up with in the creative and therapeutic space of the art therapy group."

Workshop at the Freud Museum

14/6/2019

We were delighted to welcome the 14 participants who attended our workshop 'From the Unconscious to the Conscious Mind on a rainy Wednesday afternoon in Hampstead this week at The Freud Museum.
The workshop encouraged people to explore their unconscious mind through a series of art therapy exercises.
Our next workshop at the Freud Museum will take place on 29th August. To book a place visit their website.

Creativity and Wellbeing Week

23/5/2019

Art Therapy4all are delighted to be taking part in this year's Creativity and Wellbeing Week - the annual event will take place from 10-16 June 2019.
Join our art therapists Mel and Cate for a workshop at the Freud Museum, along with many other interesting events, exhibitions, workshops and much more.
For full details visit: Creativity and Wellbeing Week

Health & wellbeing week for students in higher education

29/4/2019

One of our therapists, Anna Giannotti, spent a day at The London University of the Arts, running a stall to promote the benefits of art therapy as a part of health and well being week for students in higher education.
Anna says: "I feel that mental health for Higher education students should be addressed further. Whilst universities offer some counselling, Art Therapy is usually not in their agenda. On the day I approached some Uni reps, who said they received various proposals to offer art therapy from former students who became art therapists, but unfortunately they do not have rooms available for it on campus"
On our stall we set various info leaflets from BAAT, The London Art therapy Centre, and The Art therapy Agency, as well as our own. Few picked them up. About 8 students joined for some art making and a chat. At the end of the afternoon we managed to fill a board with images made by them.

Funding for Beyond Words: Art therapy for older adults 2019/20

29/3/2019

ArtTherapy4all are delighted to announce that we have been awarded generous funding to continuing our art therapy groups for older adults in 2019/20.

Our aim is to support, stimulate and enhance the lives of older people through the introduction of 8 new ‘open studio’ style art therapy groups in care homes across London.

This will offer older people the chance to develop skills and interests as well as enhance emotional wellbeing, reduce isolation and strengthen relationships in care home communities.

New exhibition explores stroke

5/11/2018

Just been to see 'When Swallows Return', a powerful exhibition of sculptures, collages and prints that reference and validate stoke survivor's own experiences, by Artist Julia Mason.
Will be on show at the Free Space Project in the Kentish Town Health Centre until 20 December 2018.
Open weekdays 9am-6pm.

Beyond Words: Art Therapy with Dementia

9/3/2018

Art Therapy4all is delighted to announce that we have been awarded Lottery funding to continue and expand our 'Beyond Words' Project into 2018. This funding will enable us to increase the number of people we reach.
Director, Cate Smail says; “This funding will enable us to increase the number of people living with Dementia that we reach. With the Lottery funding in 2016-2017, Art Therapy4all successfully delivered art therapy in five care homes across North London and Hertfordshire."

All the care homes reported that they found it to be very beneficial for their residents, who were able to express thoughts about what they gained from the service:
“Art therapy helps me to be creative and I find I can express feelings in my artwork that I couldn't before."

"It has been a good opportunity for me to be with other people and share my thoughts and feelings though my art."

In 2018 Art Therapy4all aims to support, stimulate and enhance the lives of people living with dementia by introducing art therapy to four new care homes in North London, as well as continuing to deliver art therapy in the five established settings.

Cate Smail says: “We want to continue to raise awareness of art therapy as a way to support people with dementia and offer them the chance to develop skills and interests, regain a sense of control, and build self esteem and independence.”

This project will enhance emotional wellbeing through meaningful art therapy activities and create opportunities for residents to be creative and expressive through art making.

Art therapy can help and support people with dementia cope with feelings of isolation, fear, confusion, anxiety and depression, as well as build stronger relationships within the care home.

We would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to Big Lottery Fund for enabling us to continue to work with the Beyond Words Project 2018.