Understanding Art as Therapy
Through the use of Art Therapy, Coda aims to change the lives of adults and children with mental health and wider social issues. Through creative therapy and a range of professionally structured activities, we can help people feel better, build their confidence and allow their self-expression to shine through.
To improve mental health, well-being and wider social issues through creative therapies
Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. We work with art therapists, music therapists and drama therapists.
A qualified Art Psychotherapist will have completed a BA, followed by 1,500 supervised volunteer hours before they can progress to their MA. This can take up to seven years to complete and we are fortunate to have links with a growing number of these highly skilled professionals. You can find out more on the BAAT website.
Coda works with people of all ages and abilities, and can offer group programmes and workshops as well as one-to-one work with fully qualified Art Therapists. Coda also works with experienced teachers, artists and facilitators to offer enjoyable, social activities, bringing people together for relaxation, leisure and learning.
Coda’s Art Therapy has three broad aims:
To increase access to and participation in indoor/outdoor creative activities and to reduce social isolation
Understand Social Prescribing
You may have heard the term Social Prescribing. It is a term that is becoming more widely used and it refers to health care professionals providing information to patients to find support that exists within the community to improve their health and wellbeing.
To read more, including the goals of Social Prescribing and why Coda is excited to be involved, click here.
Coda’s Progression Model towards Health and Wellbeing
To improve the quality of life for individuals of all ages, abilities, gender, culture, race or background in England and Wales
1) Arts on Prescription Programmes – For a client with high to medium level mental health needs to be referred onto Arts on Prescription Programme
2) Creative Wellbeing Workshops – Informal drop-in creative sessions for clients with a diverse range of mental health issues. Clients can attend whilst awaiting referral onto an Arts on Prescription Programme or attend once this has completed or attend just because they enjoy it!
3) Peer Support Activities – For clients to be supported to create their own peer support/friendship group and access other community-based activities
Please refer to Coda’s Code of Conduct for all of our group sessions: Coda Code of Conduct policy for Group Programmes