Art therapy is an integrative mental health profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psycho-therapeutic relationship. The art therapist works to support personal and relational treatment goals to improve cognitive and sensorimotor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and heal the wounds of trauma.
But what is art therapy actually?
Art therapy is a variation on traditional therapy. The art therapist is trained in psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy modalities. Within a traditional therapy session there are two components – the therapist and the client. Art therapy offers more; during the art therapy session, there is an additional member, the artwork.
Art therapy is a triangular relationship, a dialogue, through words and images, between the client, the art therapist, and the art work. With the support of the art therapist, the client determines the pace and movement of the session. Creating artwork is a back and forth relationship between the client, and the shapes and colors that emerge on the paper, allows a conversation to emerge, which enables hidden to be seen within the safety of the artwork and the container of the art therapist’s space. As the creator you have the control of the artwork and it becomes a safe space to interact with the feelings that may be difficult to express.
Through integrative methods, art therapy engages the mind, body, and spirit in ways that are distinct from verbal articulation alone. Kinesthetic, sensory, perceptual, and symbolic opportunities invite alternative modes of receptive and expressive communication, which can circumvent the limitations of language. Visual and symbolic expression gives voice to experience, and empowers individual, communal, and societal transformation.