What is Drawing and Talking?

Drawing and Talking is a safe and gentle therapeutic approach which provides an effective way for children (5+) to process emotional pain or trauma.  It is a childcentred, one to one intervention which focuses on supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of children.

How does it work?

Children can be affected by many different events and are sometimes unable to make sense of how they are feeling.  By given time each week to draw, this process is intended to allow children to process any emotions they are holding in a safe and nonconfrontational way, working at their own pace.

Children work with an adult who is a trained Drawing and Talking practitioner for 30 minutes, once a week over 12 sessions.  Children choose what to draw in these sessions and will be encouraged to talk about their drawings, using storytelling language to help them make sense of their feelings.  The practitioner at TPF is Mrs Sault, Family Liaison Manager.  

Sessions are confidential between child and practitioner.  At the end of each session the child’s drawing will be put in their folder and kept safe until the next session.  At the end of the 12 sessions the child is handed the folder to keep if they wish.

Should your child be invited to take part in Drawing and Talking you will receive a letter, a consent slip and a form to complete.

What is Drawing and Talking not?

Please note that Drawing and Talking is not a solution focused therapeutic tool, nor is it used to find out why children behave in the way they do.  Its aim is to help process painful feelings.

Practitioners do not interpret the pictures, nor do they ask direct questions.  This therapeutic process does not replace specialist services (such as CAMHs or

Psychotherapy) but can be used as a holding tool whilst other professionals are waiting to be seen.   It can also be used following support from professionals as a way of complementing these external agencies.