Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development. Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art.
Art therapy is a human service profession which utilizes art media, images, the creative art process and patient/client responses to the created art productions as reflections of an individual's development, abilities, personality, interests, concerns, and conflicts. Art therapy practice is based on knowledge of human developmental and psychological theories which are implemented in the full spectrum of models of assessment and treatment including educational, psychodynamic, cognitive, transpersonal, and other therapeutic means of reconciling emotional conflicts, fostering self-awareness, developing social skills, managing behavior, solving problems, reducing anxiety, aiding reality orientation, and increasing self-esteem.
Art therapy is an effective treatment for the developmentally, medically, educationally, socially or psychologically impaired; and is practiced in mental health, rehabilitation, medical, educational, and forensic institutions. Populations of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds are served by art therapists in individual, couples, family, and group therapy formats.
History :
In the 1940’s, artists working in psychiatric hospitals became aware that painting, drawing and other forms of artwork could form the basis of a therapeutic relationship between patient and therapist. The patients’ creations are said to reveal hidden feelings and emotions and so help the therapist to better understand the patient as well as being an important medium for communication.
The therapist :
Art therapists are professionals trained in both art and therapy. They are knowledgeable about human development, psychological theories, clinical practice, spiritual, multicultural and artistic traditions, and the healing potential of art. They use art in treatment, assessment and research, and provide consultations to allied professionals. Art therapists work with people of all ages: individuals, couples, families, groups and communities. They provide services, individually and as part of clinical teams, in settings that include mental health, rehabilitation, medical and forensic institutions; community outreach programs; wellness centers; schools; nursing homes; corporate structures; open studios and independent practices.
Working :
Art therapy works with children, adolescents, and adults. The client does not
need to have artistic skill and the art production does not need to be
elaborate. The format may include individual, couples, family and group therapy,
which serve populations of all races, and ethnic backgrounds. An art therapy
session could consist of developing a focus for the therapy, making art,
discussing the art product within the framework of psychological counseling, or a
combination of these. Often art therapy is included as part of a clinical team for
settings such as mental health, rehabilitation, medical and forensic
institutions, community outreach programs, wellness centers, schools, nursing homes,
corporate structures, art studios and independent practices.
According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is based on the belief that the creative process involved in making art is healing and life-enhancing. Through creating and talking about art with an art therapist, one can increase awareness of self, cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences, increase cognitive abilities, and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of artistic creativity. Art therapists are professionals trained in both art and therapy and hold a master's degree in art therapy or a related field. Art therapists work with children, adolescents, and adults and provide services to individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities.
Therapeutic purpose :
The premise behind art therapy—using a young patient’s art is that creating pictures allows children to express what is uppermost in their minds more genuinely and spontaneously than they are apt to do in a discussion with the therapist
Pictures help the therapist understand the children’s perceptions and feelings about what is happening to them and explore possible alternatives to solving problems. The children’s art often expresses concepts they aren’t able to articulate. When asked what he thinks about his illness, a young child may not be able to answer, but he can depict how he perceives his situation in a painting or drawing.
Art therapy programs include :
* Art for Healing Bereavement
* Paint Your Way to Inner Peace Stress Reduction for Executives
* Experimenting with Collage
* Art for Healing Anger Management
* Art for Healing Divorce Recovery
* Expressing Feelings with Color
