Art Therapy
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy is a therapeutic approach that combines psychotherapy with creative art expression. Art Therapy uses art expression with the use of color, shapes, paint, clay and other art mediums to process and express thoughts and feelings. Self-expression and exploration are very different than traditional talk therapy that only use words to articulate feelings.
Art can assist clients to express and articulate issues that can be hard to access or verbalize. Art Therapy helps reduce anxiety, depression, trauma, and other issues, while at the same time improve your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Art can offer a different perspective to self-awareness and expression and can improve our self-esteem and self-understanding as we work through our underlying issues.
Who Can Benefit from Art Therapy?
Art Therapy can be a good fit for clients of all ages. It can be great for children and teens and offer many opportunities to express issues and feelings and explore coping skills without the need for a lot of talking. Art Therapy can be a great fit for adults as well. It can offer a lot of opportunities for creative expression and exploration of feelings, insight and the development of coping skills. For clients who struggle or are uncomfortable or unable to verbalize their painful issues, art can be a gentle and creative alternative.
Art Therapy can help with a diverse number of life challenges including behavioral problems, family, school and social stressors, psychological and medical issues, trauma, anxiety, depression, and addictions, or for those that are seeking personal insight and development. No artistic abilities or talents are needed to do Art Therapy and gain its benefits.
I am not good at art. Is art therapy still a good choice for me or my family member?
Absolutely! Art is used as a means of expressing and exploring one’s feelings and experiences and is never used to judge a client on their artistic experience. The process is about treatment and therapy, the goal is not to create beautiful art, but to use the art process for healing and better functioning. If art feels good to you or you think creative process may appeal to use it may be worth a try.
Who is an Art Therapist?
An Art Therapist is a credentialed mental health therapist that is trained in both therapy and art. Art Therapists are required to study the same things as regular mental health professionals such as psychological theories, treatment, psychological disorders and human development. In addition, they have special training in art and other areas such as spirituality, multicultural and artistic traditions, clinical practices, and the healing potential of art. Art Therapists have their master’s in counseling with additional training in art therapy practices and know how to integrate the two for deeper outcomes for their clients.
Neuroscience Behind Art Therapy and Healing
There is a lot of research that helps us to understand all of the special advantages and healing benefits of art and art therapy. Art Therapy has the ability to rebalance the brain functions after they have been compromised by trauma, attachment injuries, and other challenges. Art Therapy promotes access and integration of the left and right brain. The use of Art Therapy supports neural integration and promotes stress reduction.
Art therapy is very helpful in helping clients access their strengths. It is used to build grounding and coping skills through images rather than words. Clients young or old can express their story, emotions, thoughts, and sensations through color, images, and drawing. Art allows a safe way for people to express their emotions, thoughts, and memories when words have failed them. Art allows one access to information, emotions, and experience that many times could not be accessed through talking alone. Art Therapy and expression can be pivotal to integration and healing.
Art Therapy is a very positive, client focused process that taps into the left brain and right brain to integrate healing. At the Place for Counseling, we offer Art Therapy as a successful alternative to other therapy techniques.
Are you worried that talking about your issues will make you feel worse?
Have you tried therapy and have had negative or inconsistent results?
Does the thought of talking about your history and issues overwhelm you to the point you have avoided the process all together?
Art therapy may be a great option to traditional therapy.
We offer two options in Art Therapy.
In one technique the Art Therapist can work with you and approach the issues you bring to therapy integrating with both talk therapy approaches and incorporate some art and creative techniques as you feel comfortable.
Other clients might choose art expression and activities to be the primary focus of the therapist interventions and approach with you, and other mental health approaches as secondary.
Most importantly, our Art Therapist will create a safe, non-judgmental space for you to build trust and explore your issues at your own pace. At the Place for Counseling, our main concern is your healing journey and making sure it is as positive and successful as possible.
Please reach out to schedule a free consultation with our Art Therapist to see if it’s a good fit for you or your family member. Please call today for more information!
Therapists Who Can Help
