Art is therapeutic. It’s so obvious that it’s a cliche! Yet I meet students who never really thought about why art is therapeutic. In order to maximize the opportunity art provides, we must first consider how it can be therapeutically useful.
When I teach art therapy to students, I find it helpful to divide the subject into three broad categories of reasons that art can be therapeutic:
Art as a Means of Communication Art as a Means of Self-Expression Art as a Means of Insight
Art as a means of communication is about getting at what we’re feeling or thinking. Often this takes the form of talking about our work with someone else, but it also includes things like writing an artist statement or putting together an exhibit.
Art as self-expression is really the heart and soul of art therapy, because at its best it allows us to express ourselves in our own voice and on our own terms.
This is one of the areas where art therapy most often gets in trouble with more traditional models of treatment, because some people with mental illnesses have trouble expressing themselves verbally. When we move away from talking to expressing ourselves nonverbally, especially through art, we are letting our clients use their preferred method of expression rather than imposing one on them.
Hi, my name is Jocelyn R. Gustafson and I am a licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) practicing as an art therapist. I have been in the field of mental health for over 20 years. During that time, I have worked with children and adults in both clinical and non-clinical settings, including hospitals, schools, residential treatment centers and community mental health centers. I have worked with diverse populations, including those who are homeless or involved with the criminal justice system.
In this blog posting, I would like to share with you three ways that art can be used within a therapeutic setting to maximize the opportunity for growth and healing.
Art therapy can be used in individual or group sessions as part of treatment for a variety of disorders including mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder; trauma disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); eating disorders; anxiety disorders; psychoses; autism spectrum disorders; intellectual disabilities; as well as substance abuse problems. Art therapy can also enhance treatment for individuals with medical conditions such as cancer and HIV/AIDS, helping patients express their emotions in ways that might not otherwise be possible given the severity of their illness.
The following are several ways in which art therapy may be maximized during a therapeutic session. They may be used alone or in combination.
1. The client should be encouraged to focus on and explore the art experience rather than the final product. The process will be more therapeutic than the product.
2. Clients should have as much time as they need to create their piece of art. Often their anxiety is relieved as soon as they begin creating, and it may take longer for them to complete their piece than anticipated by either therapist or client.
3. Once the clients’ art has been completed, it can be shared with others for feedback and interpretation (Wolberg, 1992). This will broaden the client’s perspective of his or her own work and help to increase self-awareness regarding feelings about the work (Wolberg, 1992).
The therapeutic value of art is not a new concept. Since the beginning of civilization, art has been used to express the feelings of patients. Early cavemen drew on the walls of caves, and through their drawings they were able to depict their fears and hopes.
Astonishingly, even 3-year-olds are able to express themselves through drawing. This ability is often overlooked by teachers and parents as merely scribbling or playing with crayons. However, there is a lot that can be gained from allowing our children to express themselves through drawing. As children grow older, it’s important for them to understand that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to art. In fact, there are many ways in which art therapy helps individuals build relationships with others and with themselves.
Art therapy can be beneficial for people suffering from depression and anxiety, as well as help them rebuild a damaged self-image. Many times an individual who feels inferior because of a physical disability can begin to feel better about themselves after expressing their feelings through art.
Art therapy can also help those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorders, Alzheimer’s disease and other mental health issues. Patients who have suffered from strokes sometimes also use art as a
Art therapy is a treatment method that uses the creative process of making art to improve the mental and physical health of patients. It is used in a variety of settings, from early childhood education and mental health to adult hospitals and nursing homes.
Or, as described by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), “art therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession, grounded in psychotherapeutic practice, which utilizes the creative process of art production, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking and mixed media art forms, to improve an individual’s self-awareness, communication skills, cognitive abilities and adaptive functioning.”
Treatment goals are determined by the patient’s needs and may include the following:
– Promote development in children who have experienced trauma or abuse.
– Reduce anxiety and stress.
– Increase self-esteem.
– Improve moods.
– Reduce symptoms of addictions.
Art therapy can be used to treat a number of psychological issues including addiction, grief or loss, behavioral or learning problems in children or adolescents, eating disorders and more.
Art therapy is a field of study that explores the use of art as a form of therapy. Many art therapists practice mental health counseling. They combine their knowledge of the body, mind and spirit with their knowledge of art to help people address symptoms such as anxiety and depression. The focus is on the self-expression and inner journey of the client.
The field emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and patient, which is founded on the belief that human beings have an innate ability to heal themselves. Art therapists work closely with patients to promote healthy emotional growth, self-awareness and self-expression through creative processes.
The goal of art therapy is to help individuals work through trauma as well as physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral symptoms by examining them from a new perspective. Contemporary art therapy places emphasis on personal meaning making as well as artistic creativity.
Art therapists may be mental health professionals who received specialized training in art therapy or they may be artists who have received additional training in how to work with clients. Some people use the terms art therapist and art therapist assistant interchangeably, but this is not accurate because there are differences in the education and training required for each position.
Art therapy is a creative and expressive form of treatment that has been used for decades. It helps people deal with mental illness, trauma, stress and anxiety, among other issues. It also has long been used as a method to facilitate healing after surgery or physical trauma. Like any form of treatment, art therapy isn’t right for everyone; it works best when the therapist and patient have a strong rapport. The field isn’t limited to painting and drawing; it can include virtually any form of art-making, from singing to sculpting.
Art therapy allows people to express themselves in an environment that offers unconditional acceptance and respect for the individual’s unique creativity. Art therapists look past the content of their patients’ work and instead focus on how the process helps them cope with their emotions. Some studies even suggest that art making may be as effective as antidepressants in treating mild to moderate depression.
