About Art Therapy
The Art Therapy Alliance states, "Art therapy is the deliberate use of art-making to address psychological and emotional needs. Art Therapy uses art media and the creative process to help in areas such as, but not limited to:
Art Therapy is also very applicable when words are sometimes too much.
Fostering Self-Expression
Enhancing Coping Skills
Managing Stress
Strengthening a Sense of Self"
Art Therapy is utilized for its effectiveness in treating trauma, combat related stress, addiction and recovery, autism spectrum disorders, psychosis, stages of life issues, memory, learning, spacial, and organizational abilities--any of those common behavioral, pragmatic, interpersonal, and psycho-spiritual concerns!
What Activities Might be Incorporated in Art Therapy?
Art Therapy focuses on the expressive modes of communication so an individual can channel and externalize one's thoughts, feelings, emotions, and focus through multi-sensory activities in a constructive and safe manner. These activities include movement, drawing, painting, sculpting, and photography just to name a few. Writing is an another excellent way to express oneself by way of poetry, lyrics, stories, journaling, free association, and even scribbling or doodling.
How Does Art Therapy Work?
Through creating artistic expression, one may reflect on the experience of oneself and one's environment more consciously. Often one experiences greater insights about who one really is (at the core level)--integrating the mind, body and spirit with heartfelt acceptance. He or she develops greater mastery of being; becoming more fully aware, able to move through the flux of thoughts and emotions--ultimately resolving trauma, uncertainty, and other sources of symptoms. Self-regulation and emotional intelligence are enhanced.
How is a Standard Art Therapy Session Conducted?
During an art therapy session, a co-collaborative verbal dialogue accompanies the creative expression of thoughts, feelings and emotions between the client and therapist--similar to that of a talk/counseling therapy session. A verbal dialogue is helpful for processing and experiencing one's own art and the deeper inherent meanings contained within the art and language within the psyche of the client. Through an art therapy session, the client and therapist will check in about what the client is experiencing and what meaning or insights occur for the client. Making art is understandably a significant component to art therapy, yet it is not compulsory.
Typically, a session begins with a "check-in" portion, usually lasting for about the first third of the session. During this time, the initial artistic and verbal dialogues occur. After the "check-in," as the session is well underway, the client and therapist begin working through a more focused process of artistic expression geared toward an important theme or dynamic, which the client wishes to work with. The last third of the session is time for verbal processes as the client and therapist talk about the art and how thoughts, feelings, emotions, insights and resolutions have transpired.
To learn more about the field art therapy and how you or someone you care about may benefit from art therapy, We invite you to visit the following articles or sites:
www.arttherapy.org
http://www.allpsychologycareers.com/topics/art-therapy.html
Art Therapy Changes Lives of Abused Children: http://www.arttherapyblog.com/child-art-therapy/art-therapy-changes-lives-of-abused-children/
Autism, Asperger’s and Art Therapy - Children on the Spectrum: http://www.arttherapyblog.com/autism/aspergers-art-psychotherapy-children-spectrum/http://www.arttherapyblog.com/videos/art-and-the-mind-creativity/#.U2uUsl6YU5t
Art Therapy Program Helping People with Disabilities: http://www.arttherapyblog.com/videos/inspiring-feature-on-art-therapy-program-helping-people-with-disabilities/Art Therapy Helping Veterans: http://www.arttherapyblog.com/ptsd/art-therapy-helping-veterans/
Trauma, military service, and travel - Art therapist brings a mix of experiences: https://iuhealth.org/thrive/trauma-military-service-and-travel-art-therapist-brings-a-mix-of-experiences
Art making and expressive art therapy in adult health and nursing care: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33575451/
It is reasonable to consider Art Therapy as a specialty in the fields of mental-behavioral health, rehabilitation, and recovery. In Missouri, there are only just a few Art Therapists compared to the vast numbers of social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors--trained at a Master's Degree level.
To become an art therapist, one must complete an entire Graduate/Master's-Level degree process through a program accredited and approved by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA). The AATA does not endorse "certificate programs in art therapy." Art Therapy holds its own professional identity within the professional mental health community.
Often there are practitioners in the mental health field who will engage their clients in art making. Many consider themselves to be artists or to have a passion for art; however, their training and certification does not necessarily permit them, ethically, to claim they provide art therapy, nor bill for art therapy services.
Art Therapists are specifically trained at all levels of diagnosis, treatment with artistic media, as well as in verbal talk therapy. Great consideration instilled from rigorous and specialized training is paramount to the ethical and effective delivery of services. For instance, an impassioned art enthusiast operating within the mental health field who is not an art therapist might incorporate art-based "therapy," which may neither be well informed nor appropriate regarding approaches to ethical, safe, and responsible treatment of clinical matters.
We encourage all consumers of therapeutic healthcare services to seek therapy from practitioners who have legitimate, specialized, and well-informed, training and/or supervision regarding their primary scope(s) of practice.
Contact us: 407-459-2066