Art goes beyond words.
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a hybrid profession using psychotherapy and art creation together as a therapeutic technique. The therapist creates a safe space for the client to express themselves through art making and then will reflect on the piece created. This helps the client discover unconscious thoughts and feelings that the client might not have been aware of.
The primary purpose of art therapy is the heal any mental or emotional wounds. Through the act of creating art and thinking about what art mediums to use, individuals can develop skills that increase cognitive abilities, increase awareness of self, self-esteem, confidence and can help themselves cope with distressing symptoms.
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What is the difference between talk therapy and art therapy?
The main difference between art therapy and talk therapy is that art is conducted during the session. This is not the case during a talk therapy session. For those who prefer not to communicate verbally, it provides another option to express one’s feelings, emotions, thoughts and observations. Many times, client’s drawings directly relate to what could have also been communicated verbally.
What supplies are used in Art Therapy?
Most Art Therapists have a wide range of art supplies. Every art material will have a different outcome, depending on the issue at hand, choosing the right material to work with is very important. Most art therapists offer acrylic paint, watercolor paints, pastels, crayons and markers. For those that want more control with their art, there is a wide option of pencils, crayons, markers, oil pastels, and charcoal pens. Clay and plasticine are also used for when individuals would like to use their hands to create something. Collaging, photography, and textiles are also used, it just depends what materials the therapist has available.
The Benefits of Art Therapy
Art Therapy helps children, adolescents and adults explore and understand their emotions, manage and reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and cope with physical or mental disabilities to increase self-esteem. Art Therapy has also been proven to be effective for Alzheimer’s disease, as it stimulates the senses and can bring back dormant memories. There are many benefits to Art Therapy, however it depends on what your goals are and what the client is hoping to achieve.
