Art therapy is more than making art and talking about it.
Art therapy is about speaking through the metaphor of the art. It is about expressing oneself through art in a way that might not make sense to others. It is about reaching the depths of the unconscious and pulling to the surface thoughts and emotions that cannot be reached verbally. It is about giving someone a voice without requiring them to utter a word. It is about the process, not the product. Emotions always play a role in art making, whether consciously or not, and that is why art therapy is such a strong type of therapy.
For those who might just be discovering what art therapy is, here is my definition:
Art therapy is a type of psychotherapy, but utilizes art to address mental, emotional, behavioral, and developmental struggles. It provides a nonverbal communication method, helps us express things that are difficult to verbalize, and can tap into the unconscious thoughts and feelings one has.
The American Art Therapy Association has a lengthy definition, but this is the concise version: “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, effectively supports personal and relational treatment goals as well as community concerns. Art Therapy is used to improve cognitive and sensory-motor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and advance societal and ecological change.”
It’s not just for kids!
Art therapy can happen in a variety of settings with any population. Some examples are:
Back in the 1940s, Edith Kramer and Margaret Naumberg pioneered the field. In current times, art therapy has made great strides since the ‘40s and has become a recognized profession in the United States. Other countries are beginning to introduce art therapy, though it is not recognized in many. Some states in the U.S. require specific licensure to be a practicing art therapist, though not all. Art therapy is not widely understood, but we strive to make it more so every day.
So how can we help people to understand what art therapy is? Well, we need to educate others regarding what exactly it entails. To become an art therapist, one must complete a Masters’s degree from an accredited university. While some might think any therapist incorporating art into their treatment can be considered an art therapist, that would be incorrect. Art Therapy requires specific training to understand how the art mediums play a role in the treatment - it is not simply drawing and talking, but also understanding the materials and process themselves.
Art therapy is a psychotherapy that builds a therapeutic relationship not just between the therapist and client, but between the art and the client as well. The art acts as a third party in the room and can provide more information about the client than they may even realize. If you want more information about art therapy, keep checking back here as I post more about the field, or feel free to contact me!
RESOURCES
The American Art Therapy Association, www.arttherapy.org
http://www.arttherapyblog.com/
