What is Art Therapy?

The American Art Therapy Association’s official definition of art therapy is “an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.”

Art therapy, facilitated by a professional art therapist, helps clients work on personal and relational treatment goals as well as community concerns. Art therapy is used to improve cognitive and sensorimotor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, process traumas, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, and reduce and resolve conflicts and distress.
For more information on Art Therapy visit https://arttherapy.org/. 

Who Are Art Therapists? 

Art therapists are master-level clinicians who work with people of all ages and backgrounds. Art therapists are held to certain ethical standards, and their education and supervised training prepares them for culturally proficient work with diverse populations in a variety of settings from hospitals, private practices, residential facilities, schools, and communities. Art Therapists are equipped to work with individuals suffering from medical and mental health problems, as well as individuals seeking emotional, creative, and spiritual growth.

Who can Benefit from Art Therapy?

Children, Adolescents, Adults, Older Adults, Groups, and Families needing treatment for:
depression, anxiety, or other social-emotional problems, substance abuse, sexual abuse and/or domestic violence, emotional adjustment to a physical or mental disability, trauma, coping with a medical illness, marital difficulties, family relationship issues, eating disorders, and more.
In other words, anyone of any age and background can benefit from art therapy!

What are the benefits of Art Therapy? 

• At the core of Art Therapy is the belief and understanding that the process of engaging in creative expression can lead to change and healing. The act of creating is cathartic and therapeutic by itself, and requires active participation from the individual, bringing one into the present moment. 

• Art Therapy can also be a shared language- crossing other language barriers and can be a form of communication and expression when words are not possible or enough.

• Art Therapy can encourage choice, decision-making, and problem-solving skills and can foster creativity- enabling different responses to difficult situations. 

• Art Therapy can help increase one’s self-esteem- allowing a sense of control and mastery with artistic materials, and satisfaction with a completed final product. 

• Art Therapy can provide a space for insight-oriented work. By exploring and processing some of life’s difficulties through the creative process one can bring the subconscious to the surface and dig a bit deeper in determining the meaning and symbolism of the artwork created in the session. 

What to Expect in an Art Therapy Session?

In a session with an art therapist, a client can expect the art therapist will invite them to engage in artmaking by either suggesting a topic to explore- providing a structured art intervention tailored to the client’s specific needs. Or depending on the circumstances, the art therapist may invite a client to create freely and experiment with the materials provided, giving little or no direction. Art therapy can include a wide range of materials from paint, clay, collage, photography, or even materials found in nature. The art therapist will work with each client to determine what media will be most beneficial for them. Once engaging in artmaking during their session, the art therapist and client will then discuss and process the final art product- as well as what the overall experience was like. Together client and art therapist will dig a bit deeper into the content of the artwork to explore and uncover the meaning and significance of any symbolism or metaphors that may have come to the surface. 

What Art Therapy is Not:

• Art Therapy is not product-oriented- meaning that the process is just as- if not more- important than the final product

• Art Therapy is not arts and crafts

• Art Therapy is not a purely recreational activity

• Art Therapy is not simply being able to draw or paint, or sculpt

• Art Therapy does not consist of the therapist ‘reading’ or ‘interpreting’ artwork- client and art therapist work together to explore and find meaning within the art for the client

• The goal of Art Therapy is not creating artwork to be displayed in a gallery or museum

• Art Therapy is not a skill that requires previous art skills or experience

• Art Therapy is not teaching individuals how to do art or art education