Photography as Therapy for Mental Health
Photo Therapy for Mental Health
Every picture tells YOUR story!
Activate
Visual imagination through group work using photography as a tool for communication.
Enable
Storytelling through the use of photo collage, talking picture cards, family album photos and self portrait work.
Process
Feelings and emotions safely within a group context thereby coming to a healing resolution.
What is Photo Therapy? (not to be confused with Light Therapy!)
Photography as therapy refers to the use of photography as a creative and therapeutic tool to promote emotional well-being, self-expression, and personal growth. It involves using the act of taking or viewing photographs as a means of exploring feelings, processing experiences, and fostering mindfulness or self-awareness. This practice can be both structured, as part of therapy sessions, as in Photo Therapy led by a trained professional, or informal, as a personal activity known as Therapeutic Photography.
My name is Sisi and I am a qualified Transpersonal Arts Counsellor (MBACP-MCGI). I specialise in using photography as a therapeutic tool. I trained at Tobias School of Art & Therapy and follow a holistic, transpersonal, person-centred and anthroposophic modality.
Phototherapy techniques can be utilized in any mental health setting. In my practice, I implement five basic techniques as outlined by Judy Weiser:
1. Photos taken of the client
2. Photos taken by the client
3. Self-portraits
4. Utilizing family albums and photos for biographical work
5. Photo projection, which refers to how individuals project their meanings onto an image
Additionally, I incorporate talking picture cards, using the photo projection technique, photo collage and conduct mindful photography walks. These walks encourage individuals to slow down, be present, and take notice of their surroundings.
Photo Therapy techniques can help with various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, personality disorders, grief and bereavement, and addiction recovery.
Workshops and Teaching
Learn more
Contact me today and find out how my photography program can benefit your clients’ mental health.
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 07950 488266
or click below.
Workshops within Mental Health
I am available to run Photo Therapy group workshops within any mental health setting. Get in touch today and discuss how my photography program can help your clients find a new purpose in life.
Recent workshop for Addiction Recovery
Download the PDF here
Very open, informal, free-wheeling, expressive, creative.
Testimonials
Some testimonials from the Recovery Cafe in SouthWest London where I ran an Art Therapy group for 4 years!
I struggle a lot with identifying, accessing, and expressing my feelings and emotions. I have found that with Sisi’s help and encouragement, I am sometimes able to identify what I am feeling and using various mediums e.g. pictures, photos, clay and different types of paint, I am able to get what I am thinking out of my head and on paper. The few times I have been able to express my emotions and my struggles have been through art therapy and I leave feeling a bit better. I have been using some of the form drawing exercises to help reduce anxiety because they are things I can do anywhere without too much thinking. It has been very valuable to me and I am glad I have something I can apply in my everyday life.
You’ve been able to notice signs of my mental health where others have failed…. the truth is I’ve seen you help every person around the table with all their different forms of mental health. You’ve encouraged, cajoled, and shown patience with the most difficult of service users.
I am able to express myself in the artwork. It helps to overcome the way I am feeling.”