Art Therapy

What Is Art Therapy?

Art Therapy is a discipline within therapeutic treatment that taps into humans’ innate ability to express thoughts, feelings, and emotions through imagery. As a nonverbal approach, Art Therapy is used in conjunction with talk therapy to help people process challenging or painful experiences. 

The foundational premise of Art Therapy is that humans have an unconscious aspect of existence that is difficult to understand and express with words. Using various art mediums, clients in Art Therapy engage in the creative process to help access and explore both the unconscious and conscious elements of their lives affecting their mental health. 

Art Therapy As An Evidence-Based, Specialized Treatment Approach

It’s often misunderstood that Art Therapy is a recreational experience or hobby, or that this approach to counseling is rudimentary and doesn’t require extensive training. Yet, Art Therapy was founded in the mid-twentieth century and has since been verified as a specialized, master’s-level therapeutic modality. 

In some cases, general mental health practitioners take a workshop or entry-level coursework about incorporating art into their practice. However, in most states, a registered Art Therapist has to receive additional schooling and licensing to practice Art Therapy. Therefore, it’s important for clients interested in Art Therapy to find a properly trained and licensed clinician. 

Research shows that when integrated with traditional talk methods, Art Therapy allows clients to lower defenses and ease a sense of control, which leads to a safer, more effective processing of thoughts, emotions, and trauma. As such, Art Therapy can be used to treat a variety of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, among others.