What is art therapy?

Art therapy uses art-making as part of the healing and psychotherapy process.  The American Art Therapy Association offers the following definition:

Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development.  Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art.

Within the art therapy community there is some variation in how therapist use art with clients.  Some art therapists focus primarily on the making of art as therapeutic in and of itself, or "art as therapy."  Others may incorporate art-making into psychotherapy as a means of communication, exploration, and experience for the client.  Art-making may also be incorporated into the work of therapists who do not consider themselves to be art therapists, such as using drawing or sculpting in play therapy.  In this blog, I will consider art therapy to encompass any of these approaches as each has value.

Art therapists utilize a variety of art media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, and photography.  Art therapy can be used to work with individuals, families, and groups of any age.  Sometimes the art-making may be structured by giving the client a directive to explore a specific topic in his/her art.  In contrast, the open-studio approach provides a safe environment where clients can create whatever art they feel inspired to do.  Art therapy can be used with a variety of clients and situations, including grief and loss, depression, stress and anxiety, trauma, children with acting out behavior or ADHD, chronic mental illness, substance abuse, eating disorders, and autism spectrum.

In my own work, I have found art to be a powerful tool for helping people to express themselves in a way that words may not have allowed.  As a means of communication, sometimes the images we create allow us to express the things we do not know how to say or are too scared to say out loud.  But oftentimes it is the process of creating that is the most important, helping us to helping us to explore and discover something new about ourselves, or access a hidden aspect of ourselves.

To learn more about art therapy, check out these links:

• "What is Art Therapy? by The International Art Therapy Organization
• "What is Art Therapy?" from About.com
• The Healing Arts--Psychology Today blog by art therapist Cathy Malchiodi

Some organizations related to art therapy and providing information:

• The American Art Therapy Association 
• The International Art Therapy Organization
• Art Therapy Alliance
• Art Therapy Credentials Board
• Art Therapy Without Borders

Carolyn Mehlomakulu, LMFT, ATR is a psychotherapist in Austin, Texas who works with children, adolescents, and families.  For more information about individual therapy, child counseling, family therapy, and art therapy services, please visit www.therapywithcarolyn.com.