Teens often struggle with their emotions due to a combination of developmental changes, social pressures, and personal challenges. Hormonal shifts, identity exploration, and the pressure to fit in can overwhelm their ability to process feelings. This complexity makes it difficult for them to understand and express their emotions, leading to confusion and distress. Art-Based Counselling can be particularly effective in this context, offering a creative and non-verbal way for teens to explore and communicate their emotions, helping them gain clarity and relief.
Children may become withdrawn for various reasons, such as experiencing bullying, family conflicts, or academic pressure. Emotional withdrawal can also occur during periods of loss, grief, or significant life changes. Mental health issues, trauma, and transitions like moving to a new school or home can contribute to a child becoming more reserved as they cope with these challenges.
Creative expression through counselling can be particularly effective in helping kids for several reasons:
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Non-Verbal Expression: Creative activities provide an alternative to talking, allowing kids to express emotions they may have difficulty verbalizing. This can be especially helpful for those who find it hard to put their feelings into words.

Safe Space: Engaging in creative expression in a therapeutic setting offers a safe and non-judgmental space where kids can explore and express their emotions freely, which can encourage them to open up.

Emotional Insight: Through creative activities, kids can gain insight into their feelings and thoughts. Visualising their emotions can help them understand and process complex feelings more effectively.

Stress Relief: Participating in creative activities can be soothing and stress-relieving, helping kids manage anxiety and emotional overwhelm.

Boosted Confidence: Successfully engaging in creative expression can enhance self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment, which can be empowering for kids who feel powerless or withdrawn.

Facilitates Communication: Creative expression can serve as a bridge for communication between the child and the counselor, making it easier to discuss difficult topics and feelings that might be hard to articulate otherwise.
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Promotes Healing: The process of engaging in creative activities can be therapeutic and aid in emotional healing, helping kids to cope with and overcome their struggles in a constructive way.
Mindscape NQ Expressive Therapies provides face-to-face art-based counselling for teens experiencing tough or challenging times. Based in Townsville City, we offer a safe and supportive environment where young people can explore emotions they may not fully understand or be able to express—no artistic skill or experience is needed. These gently guided sessions focus on self-expression and emotional exploration through creativity, serving as both an outlet and a pathway to gaining insight into their feelings, helping them build resilience and develop healthier coping strategies.
Book a free 15 minute discussion with Syann to learn how this creative approach can support your teen.
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FAQ's
WHat does a session actually look like?
Art-Based Counselling Sessions with adolescents are done so face-to-face in our counselling room in Townsville. The first session will include time spent with both the young person and their parent/guardian. Altogether, we shall discuss what's brought you to counselling, what to expect, confidentially and the safety aspects of our sessions together. If everyone, including your young person, is happy to proceed, then we shall all sign an agreement/consent form, and then move to the beginnings of the therapeutic elements the sessions which will consist of some gentle creative 'getting-to-know-you' exercises.

During the initial session, I shall see how your young person responds to the different materials we have to use and this will help guide the following sessions. As everyone is different, no two sessions are ever the same and I will always be guided by the young person in how I approach our sessions together.
DO I need to bring art materials for my young person to use?
I will provide the materials that we use in the session. Of course, if your young person has favourite pens/pencils or other art materials they'd like to bring along, then that's no problem at all!
How do I book my Young person in to see you?
The best thing to do is to give me call, or use the button above so we can arrange a chat about the sessions - You can do this with or without your child present, whatever feels right for you. 
WHat age group do you work with?
I work with teenage young people aged 13 to 17. These sessions are best done so 'in-person' rather than online.