At Springboard, we recognise that not all students can — or want to — express themselves through words. That’s why we offer a range of creative therapies that provide alternative pathways for emotional expression, processing and regulation.

Art, craft, and other creative mediums offer students the chance to make sense of their feelings in a way that feels safe, engaging and empowering. These sessions are not about being “good at art” — they’re about connection, exploration and growth.

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What Creative Therapy Looks Like

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• Student-Led Expression
  Students are encouraged to follow their own creative interests, whether that’s painting, drawing, sculpting, collage, or mixed media. We focus on the process, not the product.

• Safe and Contained Spaces
  Sessions take place in a calm, low-pressure environment where students can create without judgement or expectation. Staff are trained to be attuned, accepting and emotionally available throughout.

• Sensory and Regulation-Based Activities
  Many of our sessions include materials that support sensory regulation — clay, pastels, watercolour, fabric, and natural objects. These can help students calm their nervous systems and connect to the present moment.

• Trauma-Informed Approach
  Our work is grounded in an understanding of how trauma impacts the body and brain. Creative therapies allow students to express what’s too big, too complex, or too painful for words — safely and gently, in their own time.

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Why Creativity Matters

 

Creative expression can offer a bridge between internal experience and external communication. For students who may have experienced adversity, creative work can help restore agency, develop self-awareness, and foster a sense of achievement and pride.

By working relationally through the arts, we also strengthen trust — in the process, in the adults around them, and in themselves.