| What comes to your mind when you hear the word | | | | modalities (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other |
| art therapist? Some people think that an art therapist | | | | media) for assessment and treatment. Several pieces |
| psychoanalyzes art. | | | | of art are used to form an assessment based on |
| I first became aware of the power of the visual | | | | elements within the art and its process. |
| image and art therapy through my son. He was four | | | | How Does Art Therapy Work? |
| years old when his father and I separated. The next | | | | Although some people confess that they do not |
| day he drew a huge, scribble picture in red | | | | have any artistic abilities, it is my belief that artistic |
| crayons..........unusual for him as he literally teethed on | | | | expression lies in all of us and requires a sense of |
| crayons and could draw detailed figures. He was in | | | | trust and the freedom to allow the flowing for magic |
| emotional turmoil. Next, and for about a year his | | | | to happen. |
| people drawings no longer had faces. One would not | | | | An art therapist sets the stage for the magic to |
| need to be an art therapist to understand that this | | | | happen. In other words, the magic is the process by |
| child was confused about his self-image and the | | | | which a person explores their world using art medium |
| people around him. | | | | to foster self-awareness guided by an art therapist. |
| Art need not have words. It is a non-verbal language. | | | | Similar to other mental health professionals, an art |
| What is Art Therapy? | | | | therapist provides a safe environment in which a |
| Art therapy is an established mental health profession | | | | person feels comfortable to share from the heart. |
| that uses the creative process of art making to | | | | The process of creativity is transforming and allows |
| improve and enhance the physical, mental and | | | | the person to realign with oneself. Thus, creating art |
| emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is | | | | provides the opportunity for healing of personal |
| based on the belief that the creative process | | | | issues which cause a person to be out of touch with |
| involved in artistic self-expression helps people to | | | | one's true essence. The art product is not only a |
| resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal | | | | representation of this process, but also a product of |
| skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase | | | | the Self. |
| self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight. | | | | It is known that just the process of creating art is |
| Art therapy integrates the fields of human | | | | therapeutic and talking about it may or may not |
| development, visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, | | | | enhance the experience. The sharing of artwork |
| and other art forms), and the creative process with | | | | allows the person to be heard or understood as well |
| models of counseling and psychotherapy. It is in | | | | as integrates the insights. It is a product of Self and |
| essence the marriage of art and psychology. | | | | how incredibly healing it is to have someone listen or |
| Although art therapists do not psychoanalyze art, | | | | be present when sharing at a deep personal level. |
| they are skilled in the application of a variety of art | | | | This is the essence of art therapy. |