Art THerapy
So what exactly is art therapy?
Art therapy is the use of art-making for the purpose of improving mental, emotional, or relational well-being. We’re used to viewing art in terms of its aesthetic properties, but it has a different purpose in the context of art therapy. When used in therapy, art is about process and communication.
HOW DOES Art Therapy HELP PEOPLE?
Art therapy can help people in many ways, including the following:
Express feelings and share life experiences
Build confidence and support authenticity through the creative process
Envision goals
Process traumas and painful memories
Increase self-awareness
Explore complex issues from a place of curiosity
Increase frustration tolerance
Improve adaptive self-soothing skills
Build social skills
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT ART THERAPY IN COMPARISON TO TRADITIONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY?
FREEDOM
The experiences and feelings that make us feel stuck in life are often complex. Words can be limiting – forcing things into a linear format and compelling us to choose from a set vocabulary. Art is roomy and free, and sometimes that’s exactly what is needed to express feelings.
ACCESSING DEEP LAYERS
Taking expression beyond the verbal realm also helps people access deep issues quickly. Because we are accustomed to using words all day every day, many of us have grown adept at using them automatically to evade topics that make us feel emotionally vulnerable. This means that, for example, if an art therapy client does a collage that explores a relationship challenge she is having, the art can reveal parts of the challenge that she wasn’t consciously aware of.
WHAT KIND OF PERSON IS A GOOD FIT FOR ART THERAPY?
Art therapy has the potential to benefit anyone: children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, or groups. Because there are limitless options for materials and art processes that can be used with individuals and groups, a professional art therapist can customize the sessions to suit the needs, preferences, interests and goals of each client. The only requirement is that a person is open-minded and willing to give the process a try.
WHAT happens in AN ART THERAPY SESSION?
Art therapy sessions are different depending on the setting and the art therapist. The descriptions below characterize my personal style of practicing art therapy.
INDIVIDUAL ART THERAPY
In individual art therapy sessions, you will be in a private space with your therapist, and the art activity you do will be something personal to you. Your therapist might suggest a project or material based on something that comes up in discussion, or you might know what you want to work on. There are many materials available, and you will have a strong voice in deciding what art you make and in figuring out the meaning of your art.
Here’s an example of what might happen in an individual art therapy session:
You come into your therapy session and check in about feeling irritated toward a friend. You know you feel annoyed with this person but you aren’t exactly sure about all of the reasons. Your therapist asks if you’re open to trying an art activity, then has you select collage images that remind you of the friend, your relationship with her, or your feelings about the situation. After you select several pictures, your therapist invites you to share what drew you to each image. As you explain the images you chose, you find words that clarify what is going on in the friendship. Your therapist has you arrange the images into a collage and invites you to add any additional drawings or words, possibly exploring ways to move forward with this situation.
GROUP ART THERAPY
In art therapy groups, there will often be more structure than in individual sessions so that everyone stays on the same page. There may be a topic set at the start of group, and there might be specific materials to use. The topics will be inspired by the treatment focus. For example, if the group is set in a substance use treatment program, art activities will be designed to help participants explore issues central to entering and maintaining recovery.
Here’s an example of what might happen in an art therapy group set in a substance use treatment program:
You sit down for group with your peers, and the art therapist introduces the theme of externalizing the addictive voice, explaining that separating the voice of addiction from your core self can be useful in reducing shame that could hold you back in recovery. In order to practice externalizing this voice, the art therapist explains that each group member will be using modeling clay and found objects to create a character or creature that personifies the addictive voice. You create your character, then have the opportunity to share your art with the group. Your art therapist guides the group in discussing all of the art pieces at the close of the activity, considering how these characters get their way, what they need, what strengthens them, and what weakens them.