Art Therapy with Tori

Art Therapy with Tori A compassionate space for people of all ages to explore their inner world through art.

Sessions are tailored to each clients needs, through using art to understand themselves, their struggles, to self-regulate while talking about difficult topics.

The Power of Sand Mandalas in Art TherapyWorking with mandalas in sand offers a uniquely grounding, accessible, and heal...
27/05/2025

The Power of Sand Mandalas in Art Therapy

Working with mandalas in sand offers a uniquely grounding, accessible, and healing space within art therapy, especially for individuals who experience anxiety, perfectionism, or fear around creative expression. The act of gently shaping, layering, and patterning within a circular form can be meditative and regulating, but it’s also so much more than that.

For many clients, the mandala becomes a symbolic “container” a safe space to explore, play, and express without judgment. Sand is forgiving and transient, which can be incredibly freeing for those who feel pressure to “get it right” or worry about what others might think. In a world where many clients have internalized the idea that they’re “not good enough,” sand mandalas offer a gentle invitation to let go, to experiment, and to be seen in the act of creation — without needing to produce something perfect or permanent.

In this shared space, the art therapist plays a vital role. Not just as an observer, but as a secure, attuned presence. Together, client and therapist sit with the work and within that, there’s often quiet but powerful encouragement, acceptance, and praise for the client’s efforts and risks. This can be deeply reparative for people who haven’t grown up in securely attached environments or who carry low self-worth shaped by critical, invalidating, or neglectful relationships.

From a psychoeducational perspective, this process supports emotional regulation, self-soothing, and right-brain integration. It also directly challenges maladaptive internal beliefs about failure, inadequacy, and visibility. The therapist’s responses are essential: they model unconditional positive regard, help reframe internalised self-criticism, and offer corrective emotional experiences. When a client says “I messed it up” and the therapist responds, “I see courage, not failure,” that moment can plant the seeds of transformation.

The impermanence of the sand mandala becomes a metaphor: nothing is fixed, and healing is possible.

Let’s Talk: Color Blocking + the MindArt Therapy in ActionDid you know that color blocking, the bold use of contrasting ...
03/05/2025

Let’s Talk: Color Blocking + the Mind
Art Therapy in Action

Did you know that color blocking, the bold use of contrasting colors in large, defined areas, can do more than create eye-catching art? It actually mirrors how our brains process, sort, and feel.

In psychology, we often talk about compartmentalization, a way our minds try to manage overwhelming emotions or thoughts by creating “mental boxes.” Similarly, color blocking gives form and boundaries to emotional chaos. It’s a visual practice in emotional organization.

Each color we choose activates emotional and neurological responses. Blue can calm. Red can energize. Yellow can spark joy or anxiety depending on its use. When we pair colors in blocks, we're not just expressing, we're mapping our inner world.

In art therapy, color blocking becomes a powerful tool:

It gives clarity to the mess inside.
It allows for safe emotional expression through structure.
It helps bring order to confusion, without needing words.
Try this: Next time you're overwhelmed, block out a page using only colors. No images. No rules. Just feel, choose, and place. Let your mind breathe.

Art heals, even in squares.

Finger Painting as Somatic Grounding: A Simple but Powerful Tool for Self-RegulationThis small canvas may look playful, ...
30/04/2025

Finger Painting as Somatic Grounding: A Simple but Powerful Tool for Self-Regulation

This small canvas may look playful, but it's part of a profound somatic art therapy practice.

Finger painting is a tactile, body-based art exercise that engages the senses, calms the nervous system, and enhances emotional awareness. Through direct contact with the paint, we bypass the analytical mind and drop into the body, where many of our unconscious emotional responses live. This kind of sensory engagement helps regulate our autonomic nervous system by activating the parasympathetic ("rest and digest") response, which is essential for reducing stress and building internal safety.

Somatic approaches to art-making, especially those involving touch, are rooted in polyvagal theory (Porges, 2011), which shows that safe, embodied experiences can help rewire the brain toward greater emotional resilience. Finger painting, in particular, allows for expressive freedom without the pressure of "performance," making it ideal for exploring difficult emotions or sensations in a safe, contained way.

In this practice, I encourage clients to reflect afterward:

What did I feel in my body while painting?
Were there moments of tension or release?
Did any emotions surface?
What does this piece reveal about how I relate to others—or to myself—today?
This simple act becomes a mirror: reflecting our nervous system state, emotional tone, and relational patterns. Over time, it builds capacity for self-awareness, emotional regulation, and embodied reflection.

Research supports this:

Malchiodi (2015) notes that art therapy supports trauma recovery by integrating right-brain, sensory-based processes with narrative reflection.
Van der Kolk (2014) highlights the role of movement and tactile engagement in healing trauma through bottom-up regulation.
Levine (1997) emphasizes that somatic tracking and gentle movement help discharge stored stress from the body.
Try it: let your fingers explore without judgment. You might be surprised by what emerges—not just on the canvas, but within.

Address

Ballynafeigh Community Development Association Centre, 283 Ormeau Road
Belfast

Opening Hours

Wednesday 3pm - 8pm
Thursday 3am - 8pm
Friday 12pm - 7:30pm

Telephone

+447564544822

Website

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