Tanya Groff

ENG 1201

Dr. Adrienne Cassel

16 March 2022

Art Therapy, A Path To Healing

The possible healing benefits that Art therapy can provide has intrigued me since I first saw

this form of therapy used in an inpatient mental health facility when I was a teenager. My

mother was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder when she was in her late thirties. She would

continue to spend time in and out of mental health units at the local hospitals, treated with

various medications and therapy until her untimely death at 49 years of age. When she was

given the opportunity in these facilities to be creative, she was more at ease. Looking back, she

enjoyed being creative. When sitting down to watch T.V. at night, she would always be working

on a needle point of some sort. These were displayed throughout our home. She also enjoyed

sewing our Halloween costumes. This is where she found joy and in her illness, art seemed to

help ease the symptoms. How can art therapy heal and what types of populations can benefit

from it? Art therapy can provide a tool for healing as many different types of populations can

benefit from it including those who have experienced trauma, served in the military, experienced

a brian related disease such as a stroke, been diagnosed with cancer or other critical illness, are

struggling with mental illness and those placed in hospice care or families who are experiencing

grief from a loved one who has passed while in hospice care.

Art was first a way for ancient cultures to express themselves through images when other

means of communication were not established or available. Through time art was shown through
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everyday objects. People made their clothing using raw materials like cotton, linens, and wool.

People used clay from the earth to create pots for means of cooking. People used wood to make

shelters or furniture items needed. Art served a physical purpose. Throughout time, art became a

craft for some and a hobby for others. In a time before technology, families would partake in

evening activities which included many art forms like sewing, music, storytelling, and dancing.

In European countries art began to be used as a therapeutic tool in asylums as it seemed to help

those suffering from what is now considered to be severe mental illness. In 1940, Margaret

Naumburg, a psychologist, brought the practice of Art therapy to America. She saw this therapy

modality as a way to encourage people to express their feelings through art in hopes to help

people heal from trauma they may have experienced. In 1969 artist Edith Kramer helped to

establish The American Art Therapy Association. In 1989 the International Networking Group

of Art Therapists was established. Since this time, the practice of art therapy continues to grow

throughout America and many parts of the world.

Today, to be an Art therapist, a Master’s degree is required. The most common programs are

a combined Counseling and Art therapy degree. This combined program allows for Art therapy

to be a billed service through the insurance company under therapeutic counseling. Most people

most likely would receive a Bachelor’s degree in art, psychology, sociology, or social work prior

to applying for a Master’s program in Counseling and Art therapy. Once a degree is obtained, a

person can test for two separate licenses, one as a counselor and the other as an art therapist

through the American Art Therapy Association.

According to an Art therapist, Sara Roizen of Art Therapy Spot, the Counseling and Art

Therapy program provided her healing as a college student, working through issues she may

have been experiencing. She feels this is important for understanding how to help others work
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through their issues. She spoke of how with Art therapy, people have some control over their

treatment.

There are different forms of Art therapy, classified as creative expressive art therapies that

entail art, music, poetry, drama and dance therapy. Studies conducted between the years of 1985

to 2020 found art and poetry therapy have shown the greatest success in treatment through both

hands-on art techniques and journaling thoughts and feelings throughout time in therapy. This

article showed that using art therapies as a mode for communication people felt less stigmatized

in their mode of treatment. So many chose not seek help through standard medication and

cognitive therapy due to the stigma that lies with this. Art therapy as a means of communication

is a less invasive approach to many.

Art therapy was started as a treatment method in adult psychiatric inpatient units. It became a

tool for those who couldn’t express themselves through verbal communication. Age 24 is an

average onset for mental health issues, stating that 40 percent of people have experienced some

sort of mental health issue, calling 18 to 29 the emerging adult years when people are moving

away from childhood into adulthood where there can be many psychological, social, and

behavioral issues pertaining to both careers choices, relationships, and higher rates of substance

abuse leading to higher suicide rates. In past generations many married after high school and

started their families, most working blue collar jobs. Today, many young people chose to further

their education, not considering marriage till later on. It seems once people enter their 30’s,

many times they have a stable career and are in a long term relationship, have had a long term

relationship or have decided they are happy with being single.

Art therapy can help people who have a mental health diagnosis like depression, anxiety,

bi-polar as well as others or addictions. This is the population art therapy was first established for
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as a treatment option for healing. Many mental health institutions and/or hospitals across the

nation offer art therapy within an inpatient hospital setting. It can be beneficial for both adults

and children. For a patient who is bi-polar, going between deep depression and manic episodes,

partaking in art therapy can help a clinician understand when someone is severely depressed or

when a manic episode is beginning. When a person is experiencing a manic episode, their art

work will tend to be colorful or very erratic, whereas someone with severe depression may not

want to engage in the art work or their art work may seem dark, distant or empty. In one case

study, a teenager had become depressed. Her boyfriend broke up with her during this time. She

thought she was depressed due to this, but found the depression had been lingering for some

time. She started seeing a regular therapist but this didn’t seem to help her. She then began

seeing an Art therapist. She enjoyed art and found this to be a good tool for her to communicate

her thoughts and feelings. With a combination of art therapy and an anit-depressant, she began to

feel better. She ended up using art to create designs on white canvas shoes for all her family and

friends. This brought her joy. Art therapy can help those who suffer from mental health issues

and addictions to have a way to express themselves in a supportive environment, a place they can

find calm and build self esteem in the process.

Art therapy can be effective in treating stroke patients. When a person has a stroke it

becomes a life altering event for both the patient and their families. There is usually a long road

to recovery. Stroke patients can experience depression and anxiety from their inability to be able

to do what they had just done days before. A typical acute inpatient rehab facility has physical,

occupational and speech therapy which all can be provided to patients as needed. As a standard,

a patient receives both physical and occupational therapy. Speech will be added for those who

exhibit a need for this. Typically stroke patients will be assessed by a speech therapist.
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Art therapy is currently not a billable service within this setting. There are limited rehab

programs that may offer this as an option. For those programs which have offered Art therapy to

stroke patients, it was found that the patient's cognitive function improved, showing improved

memory, attention, thought organization, and motivation. Art therapy provides an avenue for a

patient to express themselves especially when their speech has been affected. It can provide

order to their world and help others understand what they feel needs to be communicated. Art

therapy allows a patient a space to grieve, considering their new reality. Patients gain hope as

they can visually see through their Art therapy sessions the progress towards healing they have

made. In one case study it showed a patient's progress in a past rehab facility where Art therapy

wasn’t an option and then in a facility where it was an option. The patient showed greater

improvements when an art therapy component was added. In the following graphic taken from

“25 Stroke Recovery Tips for Healing, Habits, & Happiness.”, it shows the energy that transmits

in the brain, rewiring for healing when Art therapy is part of the treatment plan.
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“Art therapy treatment goals focused on improving spatial perception capability, color

recognition, shape recognition, size comparison of objects, induction of expressed internal

emotion, and improved socialization.” (Kim, Sun-Hyun, 130) In working with an individual

initially, the Art therapist’s main goal was to see if the patient could stay focused on the task at

hand. At first the individual refused to draw the whole person, possibly because the patient

wasn’t able to walk by herself. When asked to do this later in their therapy as they were able to

walk, they drew a full figure with legs. The patient began to show great gains in her cognitive,

visual perception, and motor function. In this setting, a FIM score is given to each patient based

on their initial capabilities progress as well as their end results ranging from a score of 1 to 7, 7

being total independence. FIM stands for Functional Independence Measure. The patient’s FIM

score began to show greater improvements in scoring higher each time.

Those with brain related disorders can exhibit signs of mental health issues, like depression

and anxiety due to their decreased abilities. Art therapy gives these patients an opportunity to

express themselves in a non-verbal approach. In this case, when Art therapy was added to other

therapies including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, the patient showed greater

improvement in cognitive abilities.

Art therapy can help cancer patients cope with the diagnosis of cancer. Getting a diagnosis of

cancer or any other life threatening condition can cause one to experience anxiety and

depression, not understanding and knowing if they will beat the disease. “According to current

estimates, approximately 25% of cancer patients meet diagnostic criteria for major depression or

anxiety disorders.” (Bar-Sela, 980) Cancer patients report having fatigue, anxiety, depression,

and a difficult time sleeping. It was found when patient’s experience anxiety and depression this

can affect their treatment and possibly their prognosis. There isn’t significant evidence for the
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benefits of Art therapy for adult cancer patients as this hasn’t been thoroughly studied. Typically

cancer centers may do an art class in a group setting taught by someone in the community who

has an art education background. Patients have found art to help alleviate stress as they are going

through cancer treatments. Barriers to getting to art classes include transportation and fatigue

from receiving cancer treatments.

In researching Art therapy for children who are coping with a cancer diagnosis, it was found

that some children’s hospitals do provide these services, typically in larger cities. Offering Art

therapy for children gives them a creative space for coping with hospitalization allowing them to

express and communicate their feelings in a non-verbal, visual way. It provides an activity they

are familiar with, finding a sense of comfort as well as promoting positive thoughts. Art therapy

helps children feel like they have control over something, allowing them to be able to make

choices about their art work. They have opportunities to create art, perhaps as a gift for someone

special, creating a memory piece. Art therapy helps children relieve stress and anxiety as well.

Art therapy can be helpful in the healing process for those people who have suffered some

sort of trauma. When a person experiences trauma, the left side of the brian which brings about

speech and language is affected. Through making art, the right side of the brian in engaged,

bringing about a way to communicate to others than through speech or language. Being in the

military, especially those who have experienced being in a war setting may suffer from Post

Traumatic Stress Disorder, known as PTSD. Creative art therapies have been shown to help

those with PTSD. These were discussed briefly earlier, including art, dance, drama, music and

expressive writing therapy. Mask making is a technique used to assist veterans in processing

difficult emotions from trauma they have experienced. Mask making was first seen from

indignious peoples, those that lived in tribal communities. Theyshared their stories and emotions
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in the mask they made. Veterans would meet to make masks in several group Art therapy

sessions. This space created a safe environment for them to create and express emotions in a

non-verbal way. They had the opportunity to create both on the outside and the inside of the

mask showing how they felt or portrayed themselves outwardly and inwardly Once they all had

an opportunity to create, seeing each other’s art workbrought about a possibility for conversation

if they chose to communicate, maybe supporting each other in the healing process.

Art therapy can assist those who are either a hospice patient or family members who are

dealing with the loss of a loved one who was in hospice care, this being called bereavement

services. Hospice care can be a holistic approach to caring for patients who are terminal. Art

therapy is one component which can help in the journey. The goal of Art therapy when working

with hospice patients is to assist them in taking their anxiety away regarding their diagnosis and

instead focus on providing quality of life allowing them to express themselves in a positive light

with time they have remaining to live. Art therapy can allow patients to leave a legacy for their

loved one in a creative format. The Art therapist can serve as a witness in the patient’s process

of meaning-making at the end of life and can provide support as patients explore their deepest

wishes in the face of dying.” (Safrai, 122) An Art therapist worked with a hospice patient in his

last two months of life. In this time, he was able to create several original paintings allowing

him to reflect back on his life, understanding what his purpose was here. This allowed him to be

open to what was to come after death. This patient was given an opportunity many don’t receive.

He was able to create art allowing many benefits as well as having support from an Art therapist.

There are many modalitiesof Art therapy used when working with a variety of individuals. In

the book, Little Windows into Art Therapy, the author speaks of her initial assessment process.

She has found that through using art in her initial assessment it brings about a sense of control
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over the client’s situation. She also finds that if we can show acceptance in a patient’s art work,

then this develops as a sense of acceptance in sharing their deepest thoughts. She starts by doing

art side by side with her client, sharing a little about herself making the client feel they can share

too. During this time, she will stay in tune with how the client is going about with their art

process, helping to understand some things from a visual prespective. She likes to start her next

session with a visual timeline of one's life, opening up many opportunities for conversation. This

can bring about both positive and negative experiences, a stepping stone for what is being asked

for in therapy. There is also room on the timeline to add future goals. She uses other tools such

as a mandela for clients who are having trouble with being present. She has them draw on the

inside what they are presently thinking. She has them draw on the outside of the mandela what

is going on around them.

With families, she will divide a long sheet of paper in a number of spaces as are family

members. She then has them draw their story, presenting their feelings. With the help of the

therapist, this helps families understand where each other is as this is difficult to communicate at

times. This opens up conversation within the family unit. With trauma or anxiety, an effective

Art therapy directive would be to create a “safe place.” (Wright, 40). The author/therapist in

Little Windows into Art Therapy helps to break any barriers that may exist using art to bring

about that safe place for the client.

Art is a common language used by all people in the world. Making art gives a visual voice to

the therapist instead of spoken words. This is a wonderful thing to consider since there are so

many barriers set forth between cultural and language differences. We all can create art,

sometimes very similar to others based on our everyday experiences. We can find common ties

in the everyday through things we see in nature, family relationships, and everyday
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responsibilities of living a human life. We think in images before we learn how to talk. In Saudi

Arabia they speak of getting the negative energy out of the paper. In India art is part of everyday

life. In Guatemala, over a two year period, students came to work in a glass studio after school.

They scored higher on life skills assessment, stating they became more organized, creating better

self esteem. In the Bahamas, counseling is not allowed, so art provides an avenue for people to

express themselves. In the USA, art therapy was used as a tool for those dealing with trauma

after the attacks on 9/11. Kids were able to express their grief through creating art. In trauma,

creating art to express one’s self gives control to the person, so the situation doesn’t control

them.

Art therapy has been shown to provide positive outcomes for those populations which have

been discussed, however, there are a couple of barriers to art therapy being unsuccessful. The

first, is not having necessary materials available for the client, patient or population one is

working with. Secondly, finding that those you are working with don’t feel they have artistic

abilities, needing to help them understand that art therapy isn’t about whether you have natural

art talent but is a therapeutic tool to allow one to express themselves in non-verbal, creative way.

Everyone is an artist of some sort, but this is not the purpose of Art therapy. If one finds a love

for a particular art medium while receiving Art therapy services, then this is another positive

outcome for what Art therapy can offer. Finally the greatest barrier not having adequate

practitioners who are truly trained in Art therapy. Art therapy can be found being offered under

the title of therapeutic art, being led by those who haven’t received a license to be an Art

therapist.

In conclusion, Art therapy is an effective therapy for those suffering from many different

kinds of life situations which include a mental health diagnosis, trauma, stroke or other brian
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related disease, cancer or other critical illness, or those dealing with grief from losing a loved

one. Art has the ability for people to be able to be in a non-threatening environment where one

can express their emotions through a visual perspective. Art therapy provided a therapeutic

avenue for my mother and sure it has for many. Art therapy continues to grow as an avenue for

people to find healing.

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Works Cited

“Art Therapy.” Nationwide Children's Hospital

https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/hematology-oncology-bmt/support-servi

ces/art-therapy.

Art Therapy. [Electronic Resource] : A Universal Language for Healing. Films Media Group,

2011 EBSCOhost

https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat01128a&AN=scc.b1555343&site=e

ds-live.

Bar-Sela, Gil, et al. “Art Therapy Improved Depression and Influenced Fatigue Levels in

Patients on Chemotherapy.” Psycho-Oncology, vol. 16, no. 11, Nov. 2007,

pp.980–84. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1175.

““Interview with an Art Therapist: How Does Art Therapy Work?” Mindful Art Studio,

https://mindfulartstudio.com/tag/how-does-art-therapy-work/.

Kim, Sun-Hyun, et al. “Art Therapy Outcomes in the Rehabilitation Treatment of a Stroke

Patient: A Case Report.” Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association,

vol. 25, no. 3, Jan. 2008, pp. 129–33. EBSCOhost,

https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ811585&site=eds-live.

Maltz, Brenda, et al. “A Case Analysis of Service‐member Trauma Processing Related to Art

Therapy within a Military‐intensive Outpatient Program.” Journal of Clinical Psychology,

vol. 76, no. 9, Sept. 2020, pp. 1575–90. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22929.

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“Mental Health and Benefits of Art Therapy.” VlinderExpressiveArtsTherapy, 2 July 2018

https://www.vlinderexpressiveartstherapy.com/mental-health-and-benefits-of-art-therapy.

Safrai, Mary B. ``Art Therapy in Hospice: A Catalyst for Insight and Healing.” Art Therapy:

Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, vol. 30, no. 3, July 2013, pp. 122–29.

EBSCOhost,

https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2013.819283.

Schroder, Deborah. Little Windows into Art Therapy. [Electronic Resource] : Small Openings for

Beginning Therapists. Jessica Kingsley, 2005. EBSCOhost,

https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat01128a&AN=scc.b1515410&site=e

ds-live.

Smriti, Diva, et al. “Creative Arts Therapies for the Mental Health of Emerging Adults: A

Systematic Review.” The Arts in Psychotherapy, vol. 77, Feb. 2022. EBSCOhost,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2021.101861.

“25 Stroke Recovery Tips for Healing, Habits, & Happiness.” Flint Rehab, 9 Dec. 2021,

https://www.flintrehab.com/stroke-recovery-tips.

Wright, Kathryn J. “Art Therapy a Stroke of the Brush.” Journal of Nurse Life Care Planning,

vol. 21, no. 1, Winter 2021, pp. 39–43. EBSCOhost,

https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=152433336&site=eds-live.
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