Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for October is Untapped Art Therapy – a local social enterprise originally established in 1995.

Untapped uses art therapy to help young people recover from mental health issues or challenges in Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch.

NHS/CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) reports that 17,550 people requested access to their services in the latest months.

Untapped aims to relieve this pressure on the NHS/CAMHS and deliver more of their programmes for FREE to people who are struggling.

Art therapy is the process of creating art with the assistance of a professional art therapist. All Untapped therapists are fully qualified, insured, hold enhanced DBS checks, and are registered with HCPC (Health Care Professions Council).

Art psychotherapy uses art to help people work through emotional difficulties, especially when communication is challenging. It can be used to support individuals of any ability and does not require any artistic skills.

Sue Hamilton-White, CEO and Art Psychotherapist explains: “Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy with the added advantage of being able to use art materials to do the talking for you. Art Therapy is useful if you’re struggling to communicate how you feel or need support to understand how you feel and why you feel that way. We see a variety of difficulties ranging from anxiety and depression to trauma, gender dysphoria, bullying, abuse, eating disorders, learning and physical disabilities. Untapped specialise in working with neurodiverse young people, who tend to be most at risk of suicide and self-harm now more than ever due to health inequalities, isolation and loneliness as a result of Covid19.

‘Art Therapy provides a safe and confidential space to explore any difficult feelings. The Art Therapist is there to support the client to make connections, gain a deeper understanding, and work towards the freedom they desire.’

A recent client said of Sue: “She has been absolutely brilliant. She has helped me when I was in a very bad place and has helped me have a better understanding of myself and things around me. I couldn’t rate her more highly. By far the best therapist!”

Listen here to our Partnerships Manager, Emma, and Sue from Untapped talking to Blair Crawford on Hope FM about our Community Hero in the Spotlight initiative and the amazing work they are doing.

• For more information about Untapped Art Therapy please visit their website at untapped.org.uk