What is art therapy?

Art Therapy is an integrative therapy that involves active art-making to facilitate creative expression, healing, transformation, and emotional insight. Art therapists work in individual, group, and community settings, and are trained to support each client in the art-making process. The goal is not to make perfect drawings, paintings, or sculptures, but rather to communicate, discover, heal and grow.

Am I a good candidate for art therapy services?

Art therapy is beneficial for people across the lifespan, and no previous art experience is needed. Our art therapists work with teens, adults, and older adults with a variety of health needs, including: Alzheimer’s and dementia, intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health needs such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia, survivors of trauma, and with caregivers experiencing burnout.

What are the benefits of art therapy services?

One of the primary reasons people seek our art therapy services is to help themselves or their loved ones remove barriers to the universal human need for art experiences. Everyone, no matter their situation, can benefit from art-based therapy whether they have experience in the arts or not. Common benefits can include:

• To heal emotional wounds and build inner resilience.

• To access a flow state for improved focus and in-depth creative engagement.

• To socialize with others and express oneself in a non-verbal medium.

• To find self-efficacy and empowerment in the creative process.

• To experience emotional regulation and relaxation.

• To build mindfulness of one’s experience, environment, and emotions.

• To regain or improve in motor and cognitive skills.

• To learn new art skills and education.

• To delight in a tactile and visual sensory experience.

• To gain a new perspective on one’s experience and experience transformation.

What training do art therapists complete?

Art therapists complete their Master’s of Art Therapy with coursework in counseling, art methods, art therapy facilitation and internship. Following graduation, art therapy trainees obtain 1000 hours of supervised client contact to become a Registered Art Therapist (AT-R). They may then sit for a board-certification exam to become a Registered Art Therapist, Board-Certified (ATR-BC).

What will we do in art therapy sessions?

We begin services by exploring each person’s interests and comfort level in creating art. There is no limit to what each person can use to express their creativity; common mediums include drawing, painting, sculpting, textile work, collages, and printmaking. Through the creative experience, each individual will work on goals determined in collaboration with the art therapist. The art therapist is present to provide guidance, direction, and support as needed by each person. When possible, verbal processing may occur to gain further insight and perspective from the art product.

Is there a body of research to support art therapy?

Yes. Research supporting art therapy has been published in journals such as: The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, AIDS Care, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, and Mental Illness. There are several journals specific to art therapy as well, including Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association and Arts & Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy, and Practice.

I don’t paint or draw, but I think art is beautiful! Can I still participate in art therapy?

Absolutely yes! Everyone can benefit from art therapy, from those who have never picked up a paintbrush to professional artists. Part of the work we will do together involves finding ways to make you comfortable creating. Art therapy is a process-oriented therapy, and while our clients often enjoy their art creations, the emphasis is not on the final product. Our art therapists are trained to accommodate for specific physical and cognitive barriers, making art accessible to all.

To find out more information about art therapy services, contact us today.