Who can benefit from Art Therapy?
It is an effective tool to help familes, couples, children, adolescents and adults. The kind of art interventions I use depend on the needs of my client.
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is similar to talk therapy in the sense that underlying issues causing problems are explored. It is also similar in the sense that solutions to problems as well as healing are results of that exploration.
Rather than using words to explore, understand and heal; art therapy uses the creative process, imagery and the metaphor.
How does Art Therapy work?
The language of the unconscious mind is imagery, so by creating art and tapping into the power of the metaphor, you are utilizing the language of the unconscious mind. Using art, both you and I can have expanded access to what is happening for you. What I mean is, we use the art work and the art process to understand your experience as well as the underlying issues that may be resulting in depression, anxiety, irritability, anger, ect. This kind of access to what is happening for you can result breakthroughs in your awareness of what is causing a problem.
The use of art creates distance from vulnerable material so that you can tolerate processing that emotionally laden material. Our brains can protect us from being aware of the very things we need to know to resolve an issue. The use of art helps bypass that natural protection.
Another benefit of art therapy is that helps to externalize the problem. In other words, it helps to put the problem outside you in order to create perspective. At the same time, the problem being outside you helps you let it go, or at least put it down for a while. The creative process can also be cathartic.
Finally, human beings often create what is happening on the inside--in our inner world--on the outside, usually unconsciously. You know that saying: A messy bed means a messy head? Using art therapy techniques, we can capitalize on that connection: connecting the inside with the outside. Using art, you can create on the outside what you want to have happen on the inside.
How is it different with children?
A child often times children will use a metaphor and remain inside it to work through an issue without ever needing to break the metaphor. What I mean is, the child may never need to directly talk about the problem. Why? Because it is safer and really in their language of fantasy and play. Allowing the work to remain within the metaphor does not reduce the effectiveness of treatment. In fact, depending on the child, there can be a greater benefit because the child will often not be aware of the work they are doing and this may allow more healing to actually take place.
Do I have to be good at art to benefit from Art Therapy?
Absolutely not. The goal in the art process is not the beauty of what is created, it is not the aesthetics. We are not going for a museum caliber piece of artwork. The important part is the process of creating art and the meaning that is made of the final product.
What kinds of materials are used in Art Thearpy?
Anything that is safe! I will provide guidance and safety in the process so as to assure that the art process is being used in a way that is helpful to you.
Where can I find more information about Art Therapy?
American Art Therapy Association website
http://www.arttherapy.org/
Art Therapy Blog
http://www.arttherapyblog.com/what-is-art-therapy/
Art Therapy Credentials Board
http://www.atcb.org/what_is_art_therapy/
http://www.internationalarttherapy.org/whatisarttherapy.html