Art Therapy for Children
Parents sometimes experience confusion when their children exhibit unexpected behaviours. They make every effort to understand their children, yet they fail to discover the answers they seek. As a consequence, parents usually become both frustrated and worried during these moments because they sense important changes but lack the necessary approach to their children.
Children at this developmental stage have not yet developed the ability to describe their internal experiences, because it is a natural part of their growth process. The discovery of alternative communication methods becomes essential at this point. The arts serve as a secure, natural way for children to communicate their feelings.
What Is Expressive Arts Therapy (EXA)?
The realm of imagination can be entered through play and the arts. This realm allows us to see things that are not present in our ordinary lives. This enables us to discover the resources we were not aware we had and the answers we could not see before.
This approach does not centre on challenges or difficulties, but rather on inner resources and creative possibilities.
Activities like drawing, painting, and play create a safe space where children can freely express themselves.
The therapeutic process concentrates on the journey instead of the end result. This kind of therapy does not require artistic abilities in order to be effective.
Children develop emotional expression techniques throughout the therapy sessions, which enable them to handle everyday difficulties with increasing strength.
Some of the different forms of art:
- Drawing
- Painting
- Working with clay
- Collage
- Storytelling
- Singing
Benefits Of Expressive Arts Therapy (EXA) For Children
Helps with motor coordination
Children learn to manage crayons, pencils and pens while practising drawing activities. The use of the thumb and index finger in a pincer grip demonstrates the growth of fine motor coordination skills in children.
Body-based arts like dance enhance physical skills, including balance and flexibility, alongside endurance.
Increases creativity
Art offers the most obvious advantage, which remains vital for everyone. Children display innate inventive abilities that artistic encounters help develop into fresh creations.
Through artistic activities, children learn to explore their imagination while making sense of their environment.
Supports emotional expression and communication
Art-based activities serve as a tool for children to better manage their emotions. Children use artistic expression as a method to show their emotions while describing their interpretation of reality.
The combination of music with storytelling and drama enables children to improve their self-expression abilities.
Stimulates sensory development
The arts provide children with opportunities to explore different sounds and colours as well as textures and movement. The experiences help children develop a better understanding of their surroundings and their own selves.
The need for rich sensory and creative experiences becomes crucial during digital times because children spend extended hours looking at screens while developing their presence abilities and emotional expression, and inner awareness.
Promotes integration and self-regulation
The development of self-regulation skills in childhood becomes essential because it enables children to handle stress more healthily.
The creative process enables emotional organisation in children who discover effective strategies to calm themselves during times of change.
Who Is Expressive Arts Therapy (EXA) For?
The therapeutic benefits of EXA extend to children of all ages, including those with special needs. This method provides beneficial tools to numerous children since it adapts well to different needs.
Each child receives sessions according to their personal rhythm and individual needs, which respects their personality and promotes emotional development in a protected, creative environment.
When To Seek Help?
Seek help if you:
- Feel unwell or anxious or depressed and cannot make yourself better no matter what you do.
- Have patterns of behaviour, attachments or emotions that limit your daily life or relationships.
- Find it hard to cope with transitions in life on your own, for instance, becoming a parent, moving house, or changing jobs.
- Have gone through past or current traumatic or high stress events that still impact your mood, physical health, or self reflection.
- Are going through creative stagnation, lack of motivation or perceived isolation from self or others.
- Have physical symptoms such as sleep disturbances, tension, tiredness that do not have a medical cause or seem to be linked to stress.
How Can Us Help You?
In each session, we will adapt to your needs and goals, while also respecting your pace and proposing some challenges. We will assist you through the process while maintaining a secure environment. However, we will not explain the images, but will help you to develop your artistic sensitivity.
In addition to the use of words, arts can be used in the therapeutic setting to allow for the potential for imagination to transform a person’s emotional health. Expressive Arts Therapy offers an alternative and creative pathway to emotional healing and personal transformation.
Experienced Therapists
Our processes and quality assurance is led by Dr Emma Waddington, Senior Clinical Psychologist and Founder of Us Therapy, with over 20+ years of experience in helping individuals in Singapore.
Holistic & Personalised Approach
Our clinicians draw from various therapeutic models to create a holistic approach. At Us, we have seen hundreds of clients and we recognise that each individual is unique. Our approach is tailored to you but always includes customised treatment plans and integrative techniques.
Thorough Assessment
At Us, we pride ourselves on our comprehensive assessment processes. We will undergo a thorough assessment process with you in your first sessions before we come up with a plan for your therapy.
What To Expect
We create a welcoming atmosphere during sessions to let children explore different materials while discussing their creative process experiences. The process enables children to retrieve and process emotions which they previously kept hidden.
Initial Consultation – A Space to Be Heard
The first session is all about getting to know you. It is a conversation—one where you can share what is been on your mind, what has been feeling difficult, and what you would like support with. Your therapist will ask questions about your background, experiences, and goals, but there is no pressure to answer any questions—just a safe space to begin.
Questionnaires & Onboarding Surveys – Understanding the Full Picture
To help tailor therapy to your needs, you may be asked to fill out some brief questionnaires before or after your first session. These can give insight into things like mood, stress levels, relationship patterns, or coping strategies. They are not tests—just tools to help your therapist understand how best to support you.
Individual Therapy Sessions – Your Journey at Your Own Pace
Each session is a step forward in your journey. Therapy is not just about talking—it is about discovering new ways to navigate life’s challenges, make sense of emotions, and feel like you are getting the most out of your life. Depending on your needs, sessions may focus on:
- Exploring patterns of thought and behavior
- Understanding past experiences and their impact on the present
- Developing practical coping tools
- Strengthening emotional resilience
Feedback Sessions – Reflecting and Adjusting
After the first few sessions (or after assessments), a feedback session provides space to reflect on how therapy is going. This is a chance to talk about what has been helpful, what you would like more of, and how therapy can continue to best serve you.
Intervention – The Heart of Therapy
Intervention is where meaningful change happens. Every therapy journey is unique, and the approach will be shaped around what works best for you. Some common approaches include:
🌱 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Helping to identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns, reduce anxiety, and develop healthier ways to cope and new patterns of behaviour.
🧠 Schema Therapy – Deep, transformational work to uncover long-standing patterns that might be keeping you stuck, often rooted in early life experiences.
💙 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – Learning to handle difficult emotions with self-compassion and move towards what truly matters in life.
🌊 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – A powerful approach for healing trauma and distressing memories, helping the brain reprocess them in a way that feels less overwhelming.
🧘 Mindfulness-Based Approaches – Building self-awareness, grounding techniques, and ways to manage stress and emotions with greater ease.
Fees
Individual Counselling Rates
Clinician type
Fees and Duration
Clinic Founder
$310
Principal Psychologist
$290
Senior Clinical Psychologist
$262
Educational Psychologist
$262
Clinical Psychologist
$236
Counsellor
$170
Expressive Arts Therapist
$170
Associate Psychologist
$130
Phone calls / Emails
Clinicians rate pro-rata (10 Mins)