Art Therapy

Definition

Art Therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives
of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied
psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.” –
American Art Therapy Association, 2013

The term “art therapy” was coined in 1942 by British artist Adrian Hill, who discovered the
healthful benefits of painting and drawing while recovering from tuberculosis.
Art therapy, sometimes called creative arts therapy or expressive arts therapy, encourages people
to express and understand emotions through artistic expression and through the creative process.

Benefits of Art Therapy

● Providing opportunity for self-expression: Art can be a safe, positive way to express
thoughts, feelings, or memories that you might otherwise find it difficult to voice.
● Building self-esteem: The process of completing a creative project can be a way to find
value in yourself and build the confidence.
● Reduce stress and promote relaxation: Creative work is known to be an effective way
to deal with stress, so Art Therapy can help you calm worries.

● Help in processing emotions:

The boundaries of a creative project can provide a so-called “container” for strong emotions
both positive and negative, giving you a place to express

● Help in Improving Self-Awareness:

The creative process involved with art therapy also helps

individuals gain insight into their behaviors and attitudes while
becoming more aware of how they interact with their environment.

Who can benefit from Art Therapy?

According to a 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Art Therapy Association
“Less than an hour of creative activity can reduce your stress and have a positive effect on
your mental health, regardless of artistic experience or talent.”

An art therapist may use a variety of art methods, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and
collage with clients ranging from young children to older adults.

Some situations in which art therapy might be utilized include:

● Adults experiencing severe stress

● Children experiencing behavioral or social problems at school or at home

● Children or adults who have experienced a traumatic event

● Children with learning disabilities

● Individuals living with a brain injury

● People experiencing mental health problems

● People who haven’t found success in talk therapy

Use of art Therapy

Some conditions that art therapy may be used to treat include:

 Stress
 Substance use disorder
 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
 Emotional difficulties
 Family or relationship problems
 Anxiety and depression
 Cancer
 Eating Disorder
Art Therapy Techniques

Collage
The collages are made out of magazine images, textured papers and other materials provided by
the therapist and clients piece these elements together with glue or tape to create their art.With
collage art therapy, clients use photos to create art that reflects their emotions or life experiences.

● Create a motivational collage. Collage a vision board. Fill it with images you find
motivating.

● Create Intuitive collage is a process of quieting your everyday mind and inviting
imagery to express the story of your inner world.

Coloring - Clients are provided with coloring pages or books and various mediums, such as
colored pencils, crayons, and markers, to color in or outside the lines. This promotes mindfulness
and quietness, which reduces the thoughts of a restless mind and allows it to unwind and relax.

Painting involves using blank canvases, paintbrushes and different types of paint, like
watercolors, acrylic paints or spray paints to contrast and manipulate images. It can be useful for
expressing emotions, mood states that are difficult to express in words. Different colors are often
associated with specific feelings

Doodling and scribbling

Scribbling or doodling, like drawing, uses a writing tool and a plain surface, like paper or a
marker board, to create shapes. It involves making lines without a specific idea for a picture.
Scribbling can help the client to calm their thoughts and relieve stress. It also allows more
freedom and less pressure to create a visually pleasing piece of art, making it a very expressive
form. This can be particularly useful for people who struggle with self-criticism or
perfectionism.

Photography

Photography used in a therapeutic context is often called photo therapy or therapeutic

photography (Gibson, 2018).With a phone or other type of camera, clients can take pictures of
unique moments of their lives which capture their perspectives of the world, recreate memories
or help them think more deeply about their environment. Photography as part of an outpatient
treatment program.

Finger painting

Finger painting is a technique of spreading paint on paper and creating images with fingers. It
can be an excellent stress reliever. The experience of using fingers to create something fresh and
unique can be emotionally and psychologically uplifting.

Working with Clay

Client who enjoys using their hands to feel textures can consider using modelling clay as art
therapy Modelling clay uses the heat from a person's hands to soften and mould the colorful clay
into various shapes. It can help to illustrate the possibility of change and transformation to a
client. This type of art is useful for patients to see and feel their pieces from different
perspectives.

Activities

Relaxation

Art therapy can be a great way to relax. Consider these exercises if you're looking
to feel a little more laid back.

Paint to music: Letting your creativity flow in response to music is a great way to
let out feelings and just relax.

Encourage your client to “paint what they feel” or “paint what they
hear”

Only use colors that calm you: Create a drawing or a painting using only colors
that you find calming.

Draw with your eyes closed.

Not being able to see what you are drawing intensifies intuition, touch and
sensitivity.

Draw in sand

This activity will have you drawing shapes and scenes in the sand, which can be
immensely relaxing and a great way to clear your mind.

Gratitude

Here you'll find a collection of projects that will help you be happy about what you
have and express your gratitude for it.

 Document your gratitude visually: What things are you grateful for in
your life? Paint or collage a work that represents these things.

● Create a family tree of strength. This exercise honors those around you
who support you. Paint those close to you who offer you the strength you
need.

● Make something for someone else. Making something for someone else
can be a great way to feel good and help someone else do so as well.

● Draw all the positive things in your life. Everyone has at least one good
thing in life, so sit down and figure out what makes you happy– then draw it.

● Draw a gratitude tree: What are you grateful for? This project asks you to
write those things on leaves to construct a tree.

● Create a life map: A Life Map helps you discover what you want for
yourself and your life

Emotions
Deal with emotions like anger and sadness through these helpful exercises.

● Draw or paint your Emotion: In this exercise, you'll focus entirely on painting what
you're feeling. This technique allows clients to access emotions that might be difficult to
verbalize. The exercise can help clients understand their emotional triggers and patterns,

● Create an emotion wheel: Using color, this activity will have you thinking critically
about your emotions more creative.

Self

Draw yourself as an animal.Is there an animal that you have a special

interest in or feel like is a kindred spirit? Draw yourself as that animal.

Materials for Play Therapy Animal Self-Portrait:

● White paper

● Markers, Paint, or Crayons

Directions for Play Therapy Animal Self-Portrait:

● Use this play therapy art activity after you have processed the
"feelings" the play therapy client has had that day, or during the
week.

● Ask the play therapy client to draw an animal that represents the
feeling(s) they have been experiencing and discussed in play
therapy.

● Discuss how the "feelings" relate to the animal.

Case Example

David, a 12-year-old boy, is referred to art therapy due to behavioral

issues and difficulties in expressing his emotions. He comes from a
troubled family background with a history of domestic violence and
parental substance abuse.