Art Psychotherapy – Illustrated Reflections by Eating Disorder Patients Affected by the Pandemic and Beyond

This presentation will provide an overview of Art Psychotherapy. Following on from this will be a brief look at the impact Covid lockdown had on the UK population, focussing on biopsychosocial factors. There will then be an art experiential section where delegates are invited to express their own experiences of the pandemic through creativity.

The second half of the presentation will have written reflections by eating disorder patients around their experiences during the pandemic. Lastly, there will be an illustrated journey of a patient living with an eating disorder throughout Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and beyond. Their art and reflections will represent their thoughts and feelings during this time.

There will be an opportunity in a live chat to reflect on how art facilitates externalisation of thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Please bring any art materials if you wish to use them.

Shirelle Young

Shirelle Young is a qualified Fine Art painter and Art Psychotherapist.

She works with adults in a Specialist Eating Disorder Unit in The Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen, Scotland. She also does art psychotherapy with adolescents through a third sector charity that aims to help families overcome obstacles to wellbeing