Drawing and talking is a support programme for young people who are experiencing difficulty in managing their emotions. Drawing is a safe way to explore difficult feelings, and  break them down into manageable chunks so that they can be processed. The programme requires a high level of commitment on both parties side. It will take at least 12 weeks (30 minutes per session minimum) and pupils may benefit from an extended programme. Ideally the sessions will take place on the same day of the week, and the same time, in the same location each week.

Children are given time to draw, and the opportunity to talk about that drawing with an adult. It is non-judgemental and children are asked to talk about feelings within the picture rather than talking about their own feelings. It is deemed to be a safe way to help children resolve their concerns and move forward. There are three phases in the programme: developing and testing trust, the conflict and resolution stages. The speed at which children move through these varies, however 12 weeks is the average length. Each week the drawings are kept safe by the adult, and at the end of the programme the child is given their artwork to keep. They choose who and when they share the drawings and their thoughts about them. As with all therapeutic interventions there needs to be confidentiality between the adult and the young person.

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