About Art Therapy

WHAT IS ART THERAPY?

Art therapy combines creative, visual expression with mental health counseling to help people find new ways to express and explore thoughts, feelings and experiences.  It is based on the belief that artistic expression is inherently healing, and reflecting on one’s artistic creations can facilitate creative problem-solving, promote insight, and offer an opportunity to get a fresh perspective on the types of life issues that can leave people feeling stuck. 

Art therapy is used to treat every imaginable psychiatric diagnosis, from ADHD to depression to schizophrenia to personality disorders.  Art therapy can also help people address issues like family and relationship issues, identity-related issues, life transitions, trauma, grief and loss, food and body issues, and medical illness.  Other less conventional, but effective uses include personal development, overcoming creative blocks, and team-building.  

Art therapy is used in many different settings, including, but not limited to schools, medical care facilities, psychiatric hospitals, correctional facilities, nursing homes, substance abuse programs, shelters, and private practice settings.  Art therapy can be used with people of all ages, all intellectual levels, and all levels of artistic experience.  It is an effective method of treatment for individuals, groups, couples and families. 

Art therapists are master’s level trained clinicians who are knowledgeable about theories of human development, theories of counseling, psychopathology, professional ethics, clinical research, and art therapy techniques and application.  The art therapy profession is governed by the American Art Therapy Association, and art therapists are credentialed by the Art Therapy Credentials Board. but effective uses include personal development, overcoming creative blocks, and team-building.  

WHAT CAN I EXPECT IN A SESSION?

When meeting with me for the first sessions, I will work with you to identify specific issues of concern and what you hope to accomplish in therapy. Depending on your comfort level and goals, you might start making art as soon as the second session. A typical art therapy session begins with time to talk, followed by an art task designed to help you explore issues of concern. Sessions conclude with time to discuss the final art product, your experience creating it, and how themes or issues in the art relate to your life. Sometimes, there might be more involved projects that you would spend multiple sessions creating.  

Art materials can range from traditional drawing materials, like markers, pastels, or colored pencils, to sculptural materials like modeling clay. You might create magazine or colored paper collage, or you might use craft materials like popsicle sticks and fabric. Depending on your interests and goals, we might use photograghs or other digital media. For clients with diabetes, we often recycle diabetes trash to use in art projects.