What Do You Need Today? A Gentle Art Therapy Prompt for anyone living with Chronic Illness

Art to help us meet our own needs

This simple art therapy prompt can help us to pause, reflect and give ourselves what we need. Sometimes one word is enough to begin.

Today's session begins with a question.

What do you need today?

Is there a word that comes to mind?

Could it be something like support, appreciation, rest, space, energy or hope?

Take a moment and allow your word to arrive.

I will do it with you.

Just breath and listen.

What surfaced? Was it what you expected?

My word 'sunlight' arrived loud and clear. This is not a word I expected to hear when I asked myself what I need today, but here it is. Simple and bright sunlight.

You see therapy doesn't have to be complicated. An art therapy session can begin and unfold beautifully from just one word.

Here is how it could go from there...

We could think about ;

• what does this word bring to your mind?

• Do your thoughts go forward or back to a memory with this word? Perhaps both.

• What colour is this word?

• What shape or texture comes to your mind?

• Is this word an invitation or does it suggest a direction to meet that need?

• Is there an art material that might help you explore this word?

Notice how we can bring the art in without too much pressure.

I realise that this kind of prompt/exercise can be supportive for anyone, no matter what you are going through.

However, my gaze always comes back to those living with anxiety and anyone who lives with long term, often invisible, chronic pain or fatigue conditions.

Life with chronic illness can be hard enough. It isn't always easy to explain or know where to start and therapy might feel daunting.

On those days one simple word can be a place to begin.

So ask, listen and if you are curious about art therapy I hope this has given you some reassurance and encouragement.

Please know that your art can make space for today's needs to be met.

My goodness,

that would be enough!

You can contact me for art therapy sessions anytime,

Until then stay creative,

Ellen