Guided Drawing, also known as Sensorimotor Art Therapy in Manchester: A Body-Based Creative Approach to Healing.

Chloe
Jul 28
3 min read

Updated: Aug 11

Not everyone finds it easy to talk about how they’re feeling — and sometimes, talking just isn’t enough.

In my work as an art therapist in Manchester, I’ve seen how deeply Guided Drawing, also known as Sensorimotor Art Therapy, can support clients who feel stuck, overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected from themselves. This approach offers a different way, in a way to begin creating, connecting, and healing from within.

Rooted in body-based, trauma-informed practice, Guided Drawing uses expressive mark-making and movement to gently explore what’s held in the body, especially when it’s hard to find the words.

Since completing my training in this method in May 2024, I’ve been weaving it into my work with clients whose needs align with what this powerful framework can offer.

What does it actually involve?

Using soft pastels, large paper, and guided movements, clients are invited to slow down and listen to the body’s needs, resistance, and pulls, often subtle internal sensations that usually go unnoticed, yet shape how we react, behave, or feel in everyday life.

As we begin to track these sensations through movement and drawing, something starts to shift. Clients begin to notice their reactions earlier, feel less overwhelmed by their emotions, and develop ways to stay anchored in the present. Through this process, the body and mind begin to feel safe again, reconnecting with the parasympathetic nervous system and supporting a sense of calm from the inside out.

Some find themselves drawing shapes that offer a feeling of holding, relief, or stability. Others sense something new beginning to emerge. It’s never about the art looking a certain way.... it’s about how it feels.

For many, especially those with relational trauma or clients who find it difficult to talk directly about their stressors, this way of working offers a safe and supportive alternative.

Bringing awareness into integration

Once the body has expressed what it needed to through the drawing, I offer clients the chance to explore what’s come up ..... either through gentle conversation, or by collaging words or phrases onto their image. This helps bring cognitive understanding to the experience and supports the integration of new awareness, at a pace that feels right for each person.

Who is it for?

This approach can be particularly helpful if you're:

Feeling anxious, stuck, or emotionally overwhelmed
Struggling with low mood or disconnection from yourself
Carrying the effects of trauma or long-term stress
Wanting to build trust in your body and your emotional responses
Looking for a more creative, body-led approach to therapy

I currently offer Guided Drawing as in person therapy in Manchester at my therapy space.

Whether you’re looking for something different from traditional talking therapy, or you’re curious about how creative, somatic work might support your journey, this process could offer the grounding, reconnection, and shift you’ve been longing for.

If this speaks to something in you, I’d love to welcome you.