DRAWING AND TALKING
The Drawing and Talking therapeutic approach is a safe, gentle, trauma-informed method that supports children, young people, and adults to process emotions, experiences, and internal worlds through symbolic drawing, metaphor, and therapeutic conversation. Rooted in the projection theories of Carl Jung and psychodynamic principles, the approach recognises that individuals often communicate difficult feelings and unconscious material more safely through imagery, symbols, stories, and play than through direct verbal disclosure.
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Drawing and Talking is not, in itself, a standalone psychotherapy modality unless it is being delivered by a qualified therapist or counsellor within an established therapeutic framework, as is the case within clinically supervised counselling or psychotherapy practice. However, it is widely used as a therapeutic tool by trained practitioners in schools, community settings, and support services because of its structured, containing, and non-intrusive nature. When appropriately trained and supervised, practitioners can use the approach safely to support emotional expression, regulation, and relational connection.
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The method is delivered within a clearly defined structure, typically over a minimum of 12 sessions, creating predictability, emotional containment, and relational safety. Sessions are process-led and child-centred, allowing the client to move at their own pace without pressure to disclose or explain experiences before they are ready. This person-centred approach helps establish trust and psychological safety, particularly for children and young people who may struggle with direct verbal communication, trauma processing, neurodivergence, anxiety, or emotional dysregulation.
A core strength of the approach is that it allows the practitioner to enter the client’s world on the client’s terms.
Through symbolic play, imagination, drawing, and metaphor, the practitioner witnesses and reflects the client’s inner experiences without judgement or interpretation being imposed upon them. This aligns closely with the ethos found within Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), particularly the principles of acceptance, curiosity, psychological flexibility, and compassionate witnessing of internal experiences rather than attempting to suppress or avoid them.
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The imaginative aspect of Drawing and Talking provides a psychologically safer route into difficult emotions, fears, memories, dreams, and wishes. Clients may explore worst fears, imagined scenarios, hopes, desires, protective fantasies, or symbolic representations of lived experiences through the distancing effect of imagery and metaphor. This symbolic expression can reduce overwhelm and allow emotional material to emerge gradually and safely within the therapeutic relationship.
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Importantly, the inclusion of creativity, free play, and imagination introduces opportunities for joy, hope, mastery, and self-expression. For many children and young people, the experience of being accepted, listened to, and emotionally held within playful, creative exploration can itself become reparative. The process supports emotional literacy, self-awareness, regulation, resilience, and relational trust while remaining non-directive and respectful of the client’s autonomy.
Within trauma-informed practice, Drawing and Talking prioritises safety, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and attunement. The practitioner remains aware of pacing, nervous system regulation, and the importance of maintaining emotional containment throughout the work. Clinical supervision further supports safe and ethical practice, ensuring that emerging themes are appropriately held and managed within professional boundaries.
