Art Therapy

BY: MELISSA

There is no such thing as a perfect person, so this means that everyone in the world goes through some sort of struggles or life challenges. Many people use therapy as an outlet or a place to let their feelings out. One type of unique therapy is called art therapy, which is the practice of art creation as a form of psychotherapy. It is for people experiencing trauma or illness, seeking personal development, or struggling to deal with the day-to-­day act of living.

Through art therapy, patients may find relief from overwhelming emotions, crises, or trauma. Art therapy is a soothing and stress reducing way to help people express themselves. It also may be more effective for a person than a regular therapeutic session and if they don’t try art therapy they might not get the help that could really benefit them.

For thousands of years art has been used as a tool for communication. On the other hand, art therapy is a relatively new profession and concept in the field of psychotherapy. The field of art therapy has grown and expanded in the last two decades and is starting to become a recognized form of treatment in health and medicine. Art therapy wasn't defined and developed into a distinct therapeutic use of art until the 1940′s. Art therapy grew from the belief that the symbolic content of images could be obtained from patients’ art expressions and dreams. By mid-twentieth century many people grew to believe that the creative process of making art could encourage rehabilitation, change, and growth (Malchiodi).

Art therapy can be very beneficial due to its ability to help release powerful emotions, transcend trauma, and reduce stress levels. It is a tool that uses the language of art for transformation and personal growth. Many have experienced the personal fulfillment that accompanies the creation of an artistic work. Children can experience this in different forms of arts and crafts such as crayon drawings, sand castles, collages, etc. On the other hand, adults can paint, take photographs, and even scribbling lines in the corner of your notepad on your desk. These are all simple activities that soothe yourself, release stress, but most importantly, give enjoyment and pleasure.

In conclusion, art therapy is a very beneficial type of psychotherapy that can help patients express themselves and create effective life skills to carry throughout life. The use of nonverbal expression, through the process of making art, encourages patients to represent their experiences through their artwork. Please comment below if you have any questions about art therapy, I would love to try to answer them!

Malchiodi, Cathy. Art Therapy Sourcebook. 2nd ed. N.p.: McGraw-Hill Education, 2006. Print.

"Art Therapy - Inspiring Others to Create with Expressive Arts." Art Therapy. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016. <http://www.arttherapyblog.com/>.