Therapeutic art.

"The art therapy experience is amazing. The process affected both the mind and the body. - client comment"

Discover solution-focused art therapy at Ruskaretriiti!

Are you looking for a way to deepen your self-expression and improve your quality of life? At Ruskaretriiti, we offer solution-focused visual art therapy, also known as well-being art. This creative and inclusive form of activity brings together art, community and personal growth, just like yoga or meditation.
Solution-focused art therapy gives you the opportunity to make the invisible visible. By painting and drawing, you can process your own experiences and feelings. In an art group, you are the best expert on your own life, but the presence of other group members can open up new perspectives and insights into your own life. The therapy group works alongside you – as a mirror between people, a companion and an interpreter on your journey.

At Ruskaretriiti, art therapy is carried out in a relaxing environment, where you can create art outdoors in the lap of nature or by the fire with a cup of coffee. The painting will last about an hour, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the silence and focus on your own thoughts and associations.
As the paintings dry, we will discuss together how the process felt. After this, we will move on to the analysis phase, where we will look at the paintings with outside eyes. This intense phase can bring up emotions, but remember that you decide whether you want to share your own thoughts about your work. The review usually takes about 1-1.5 hours, depending on the size of the group.
You will receive your painting as a souvenir of this wonderful retreat. Join us and experience how art can open new doors to improve your well-being and mental health!

Your art therapist is Johanna Ullakko, who has worked as a solution-focused group art therapist since 2017. Below are some comments from clients after art therapy sessions:

I was able to participate in a visual expression exercise with a small group of friends under Johanna's guidance. After a short theory session, we started with a "landing" exercise with an awareness exercise. It detached my thoughts from everyday life. The exercise itself included visual work, which was a great opportunity to process my own, possibly burdensome, things. Visual expression was foreign to me, but the atmosphere was safe and I found the work surprisingly pleasant. Overall, the exercise brought new perspectives and self-compassion to the process I was working on.

The art therapy experience is amazing. The process affected both the mind and the body.

I didn't feel like I needed therapy, but the visual expression and the other group members' views on my picture did open up new thoughts and perspectives for me. I was left pondering several questions, so surprisingly the therapy worked.