In psychology, the use of artistic methods to treat psychological disorders and enhance mental health is known as art therapy. Art therapy is a therapeutic technique rooted in the idea that creative expression can foster healing and mental well-being.1 Art, either the process of creating it or viewing others’ artworks, is used to help people explore their emotions, develop self-awareness, cope with stress, boost self-esteem, and work on social skills.
It may surprise you to learn that art can be an effective tool in mental health treatment. What could art possibly have to do with psychotherapy? As an expressive medium, art can be used to help clients communicate, overcome stress, and explore different aspects of their own personalities.
What Is It?
Art therapy integrates psychotherapeutic techniques with the creative process to improve mental health and well-being.
The American Art Therapy Association characterizes art therapy as an approach to mental health that utilizes the process of creating art to improve mental, physical, and emotional wellness.2 The goal of art therapy is to utilize the creative process to help people explore self-expression and, in doing so, find new ways to gain personal insight and develop new coping skills.
Techniques used in art therapy can include drawing, painting, coloring, sculpting, or collage. As clients create art, they may analyze what they have made and how it makes them feel. Through exploring their art, people can look for themes and conflicts that may be affecting their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
People do not need to have artistic ability or special talent to participate in art therapy, and people of all ages including children, teens, and adults can benefit from it. Some research suggests that just the presence of art can play a part in boosting mental health.
History
People have been relying on the arts to communicate, express themselves, and heal for thousands of years, yet art therapy didn’t start to become a formal program until the 1940s. Doctors noted that individuals suffering from mental illness often expressed themselves in drawings and other artworks, which led many to explore the use of art as a healing strategy.Since then, art has become an important part of the therapeutic field and is used in some assessment and treatment techniques.
Uses
Art therapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental disorders and psychological distress. In many cases, it might be used in conjunction with other psychotherapy techniques.
How It Works
An art therapist may use a variety of art methods including drawing, painting, sculpture, and collage with clients ranging from young children to the elderly.Clients who have experienced emotional trauma, physical violence, domestic abuse, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues can benefit from expressing themselves creatively.
Inpatient offices, private mental health offices, schools, and community organizations are all possible settings where art therapy services may be available.
People often wonder how an art therapy session differs from the average art class.
Where an art class is focused on teaching technique or creating a specific finished product, art therapy is more about letting clients focus on their inner experience.3
In creating art, people are able to focus on their own perceptions, imagination, and feelings. Clients are encouraged to create art that expresses their inner world more than making something that is an expression of the outer world.
Limitations
While research suggests that art therapy may be beneficial, some of the findings on its effectiveness are mixed.Studies are often small and inconclusive, so further research is needed to explore how and when art therapy may be most beneficial.
