Towards relational health
Arts Psychotherapies are arts based psychological therapies offered across NHS Lothian in Community, Inpatient and Children and Young People Services. See our full list of services
We help people manage how they respond to difficult emotions so they can build kinder and more trusting relationships with themselves and others, feel safer in relationships, and lead more fulfilling lives
As relational psychotherapists we use arts based activities within a therapeutic framework to help people see themselves and others differently. We aim to help people handle difficult emotions better and therefore have kinder and more trusting relationships with themselves and others, to feel safer in relationships and lead more fulfilling lives.
We help people of all ages and abilities who find it difficult to put their feelings into words or make sense of them. Many of the people we support have been through challenging life experiences and struggle to manage their emotions. Our approach is especially helpful when feelings are overwhelming, confusing, or hard to talk about, or when someone finds it difficult to explain their needs and access support. This includes people with Complex Emotional and Relational Needs, who are often excluded from services or may find it hard to stay engaged with care and support.
The arts form and making supports a therapeutic framework that helps people connect and build trust, which they can then use in their daily lives. This trust can impact their ability to make decisions and how they connect with others. We offer psychological therapy that focuses on the individual, either in group sessions or one-on-one, depending on what the patients need. We often use a Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT) approach, which works well for many of our patients.
This film was produced by The Empowerment Group, a group of people with lived experience of using Arts Psychotherapies Services at NHS Lothian, working in partnership with the NHS Lothian Charity.
How to access Arts Psychotherapies treatments
Currently, we cannot accept self-referrals from the public for Arts Psychotherapies treatments. We only accept referrals for individuals already connected with other NHS Lothian services. This includes those using Inpatient Services, children and young people involved with Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and referrals from Community Mental Health Teams across Edinburgh and the Lothians. As a small service, we aim to prioritize those most in need.
If you are interested in accessing Arts Psychotherapies, the best first step is to discuss your mental health and wellbeing with your General Practitioner (GP). If your GP agrees that a referral to your local Community Mental Health Team is appropriate, they will make the referral, and you can then inquire about Arts Psychotherapies.
If you have any queries about accessing our services then do please contact us
This is how it works
Arts Psychotherapists are psychological professionals trained in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT) approaches, and who have experience in Art, Music, or Drama. They are registered as Art Psychotherapists, Music Therapists and Dramatherapists within the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
A challenge across mental health services is the “missingness” of patients; individuals with Complex Emotional & Relational Needs who are frequently excluded from treatment pathways or who repeatedly disengage from offers of care and support. This includes people who may find traditional psychological therapies inaccessible, overwhelming, or overly reliant on verbal communication.
Our arts-based interventions are specifically designed to address these barriers. By using creative modalities, we enable participants to express experiences and emotions without needing to find the “right words.” This non-verbal, relational approach helps reduce the pressure often associated with conventional talking therapies and creates a more inclusive, accessible entry point into care.
Click here to take a look at videos that describe how each of the Arts Psychotherapies professions might help. We’ve created our own video below about our service.
When to consider Arts Psychotherapies
Arts Psychotherapists work with individuals of all ages and abilities at various stages of life across different services.
Arts Psychotherapies can be beneficial for those who struggle to identify or express their difficulties, making it hard for them to access suitable support. It can also help individuals who find the close interpersonal interactions in psychological treatments challenging to maintain. We often work with people with Complex Emotional Needs, including people that may attract a diagnosis of Personality Disorder, Psychosis or Schizophrenia.
If you are a clinician interested in how Arts Psychotherapies might benefit the people you support, please contact our team. We can discuss potential treatment options. Our service is organized into teams that support inpatient, community-based patients, and children and young people. Contact our Team Leads
Feedback from people with experience of using our services
I was able to feel more at ease in myself sharing difficult memories and helping me process this. I feel listened to and not judged.
patient experience
By having that space to explore emotions and using materials to express myself – it freed up head space over time which helped me to focus on myself and recovery.
patient experience
It has not only enabled some patients to be engaged therapeutically where otherwise they may not have, but also provided some insight into patients experience which we otherwise would not have known to think about in our approach.
Senior Charge Nurse, Acute Psychiatry
After a very long period of very low self-esteem, I feel when I create, I have a sense of achievement, not judging what I’ve made as good/bad. This is helping me be a bit more confident in doing other things too.
patient experience
It has made me more mindful of my negative thoughts and try and address
patient experience
them before they overwhelm me. I have learned to listen to others more and respect their feelings and not take everything personally.
