For over 54 years, Brandon Centre has been at the forefront of delivering preventative services grounded in the psychoanalytic understanding of adolescent development. An important part of our work is reaching and supporting young people in our community who don’t typically access statutory mental health services.
We are thrilled to announce that we have received a generous grant from The Pixel Fund who are supporting our ‘Outreach Art Psychotherapy’ project. Brandon Centre’s Art Psychotherapy session will be delivered to 56 young people at The Winch. The Winch, is a well-established Camden charity known for its vibrant youth clubs, holiday programs and mentoring services. A recent service user survey at The Winch, highlighted mental health as the highest concern among young people. Therefore, our dedicated outreach project it vital and offers easily accessible support to young people.
Art Psychotherapy uses artmaking as a primary mode of communication and expression, enabling young people to express their feelings and emotions non-verbally, discover new perspectives on their experiences, and convey complex emotions. Art Psychotherapy offers unique benefits compared to traditional verbal therapy including:
Helping young people express their thoughts and emotions that might be difficult to articulate verbally
Engaging in art can lower stress and promote relaxation
Increasing self-awareness by exploring the inner world in a visual and tangible form
Art can be used to represent difference and sensitive topics metaphorically making it easier to discuss and address complex emotions.
Our project aims to improve mental health and wellbeing, increase social connectedness and reduce stress. We are deeply grateful to The Pixel Fund for their invaluable support. Their generosity allows us to make a significant difference in the lives of young people at The Winch, providing them with the mental health support they need and deserve.