Art therapy can improve mental, physical and emotional wellbeing, by facilitating self-expression and developing new coping strategies. It can include drawing, painting, craft, colouring, sandplay, sculpting, or collage. As participants create art, they might discover new ideas or beliefs, or reflect on what they’ve made and how it makes them feel. Art therapy is provided in a safe space without judgement, and it’s suitable for children, teens and adults.
Some of the benefits of art therapy can include:
- Encouraging self-expression and communication
- Reducing stress
- Using creative tools to practice fine motor skills
- Relaxation
- Improving motor function and cognitive function
- Socialising
- Teaching daily living skills
- Encouraging self-discovery and emotional growth
According to ANZACATA, the peak professional association for creative arts therapies in Australia, New Zealand and Asia, creative art therapy is based on the idea that creativity enhances the wellbeing of people.
How does art therapy work?
“The creative arts therapies use creative processes to help clients explore and express unconscious material that is often difficult to articulate in words,” ANZACATA says. “These methods are innovative, participatory and practical: they provide a supportive space for participants to ‘try on’ and practise new behaviours.”
“Creativity can connect us with a sense of meaning and also a means of communicating this to others. This approach can provide soothing and satisfying activities that can counter boredom and lack of engagement and provide the experience of safety, empowerment and the relief of symptoms of anxiety and/or depression through symbolic expression.”
There are a wide range of therapies available in NDIS plans, from physiotherapy to art therapy, music therapy and occupational therapy. To use NDIS funding for art therapy, it’s important to show that it’s reasonable and necessary. As a general rule, if you can show that a therapy will deliver an expected outcome and is aligned with the goals and objectives in your NDIS plan, the NDIS should fund it.
The NDIS groups therapy into three categories, which are all classified under Capacity Building supports.
- Improved Daily Living (category 15)
This is usually the most common support category that covers generic and major therapy services in an NDIS plan. This category covers all therapy that can ‘improve your daily living skills’, from speech therapy to dance therapy.
- Improved Health and Wellbeing (category 12)
This category covers funding for activities which can help you support, maintain or increase your physical mobility, health or wellbeing. It can include funding for supports like dieticians, exercise physiology and personal trainers.
- Improved Relationships (category 11)
Therapies that are covered under this category are intended to support you to make positive changes to your ability to socialise and relate to others. It can include supports like psychologists and behavioural therapists.
Speak to your support coordinator or Local Area Coordinator if you’re interested in including art therapy into your NDIS plan.
