What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy is a form of therapy that utilizes art in its many forms as a way of allowing people to express themselves. But it is also so much more than that. When we make art, our brains light up in different ways. Sometimes, people are able to access thoughts, experiences, and feelings that were previously hidden or challenging. Art making has also been shown to lower levels of cortisol in the body, which makes it an amazing coping strategy for periods of distress.
Here are two myths about art therapy!
You have to be a good artist or at least creative in order to benefit from art therapy.
Art therapy can be wonderful for anyone, regardless of your skill level. Art therapy is not about making pretty pictures or masterpieces. In actuality, sometimes, making something that is uncomfortable is exactly what we need to be doing. Art therapy can help us manage feelings of perfectionism and let go of our inner critic. Art therapy provides a place for creative problem solving and risk taking - two skills that are incredibly important in life in general.
Art therapy is primarily a form of therapy for children.
Art therapy is for anyone who is interested. My youngest client has been 3 and my oldest was in their late seventies. Art therapy is for all genders. Art therapy can also be used in couples therapy and in family therapy.
What are the benefits of Art Therapy?
1. Art is a direct expression of dreams, fantasies, and other inner experiences that often occur as pictures rather than words.
2. Art expression often escapes internal censorship more easily than verbal expression.
3. Art can be durable and unchanging – a record of the client’s therapy.
4. Art can often help individuals obtain feelings of competency when they have completed something that they feel proud of.
5. Because of the kinesthetic sensory quality of art, art therapy has unique benefits for those suffering from issues of trauma
What does an art therapy session look like?
An art therapy session can look different for every client. The art therapist will often pay attention to the needs of the client and what they are wanting to express to find the right art therapy directive. Some clients might work on a single painting for weeks at a time. Other clients might do a different art project each week. A times the art therapist will provide direction - at other times, the client will ask for a certain material. I have some clients who sit on the couch with an embroidery hoop stitching while we talk. With each stitch, the client is activating different parts of their brain and staying grounded in the room. I have found this to be particularly beneficial for those clients who tend to dissociate when talking about traumatic material.
Want to know more? Here are some great resources!
The American Art Therapy Association