These include art therapy, music therapy and drama therapy. All of these therapies are offered by therapists trained to use creative methods and media to help clients express thoughts and feelings within a therapeutic setting. For example, art psychotherapists are professionally trained to work with the therapeutic processes that can develop during the process of art making. Art therapy and other creative therapies can be particularly helpful for adults and children who have difficulty communicating through words and for those suffering from stress or trauma.

Creative therapies have previously generally only been available for adults receiving help through secondary care services or privately. However, the range of settings in which they are now being offered is developing to include some schools, community settings, specialist units and some statutory and voluntary sector day services for mental health service users.

The following is testimony from an art therapy client:

"Art therapy has enabled me to express my emotional feelings visually and was very effective at pinpointing subconscious hurts/wounds and go towards healing and moving on"