Art Therapy

What is Art Therapy?

Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that combines the creative process with theories of psychology. 

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The creative process is employed to help clients increase insight, develop coping skills, work through traumatic experiences, as well as to just enjoy the life-affirming pleasure of the creative experience

What does Art Therapy do?

Many people can be daunted by the idea of art making, saying, “I’m not artistic. I can’t draw. I don’t know what to do.”  In Art Therapy the image in itself is not what is important but more so the creative process and the feelings that it brings up for us. Art making can bring about new ways of looking at life situations and events and can facilitate positive ways of dealing with life’s challenges.

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Art Therapy can be helpful for a variety of different issues such as:

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• Self-Expression 

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Stress

• Self-Confidence

• Trauma

• Grief

• Anger

• Self-Awareness

• Executive Functioning 

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What is a typical session like?

In an Art Therapy session, clients can anticipate working with a variety of materials in a safe, no-mistakes, space.

Sessions can be spent making art, talking, and/or processing their art-work.  I believe everyone has the ability to engage in creativity.

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Materials often used include

• drawing/ colored pencils

• acrylic and watercolor paint

• sculpting materials: plaster, model magic

• pottery wheel and hand building high fire clay 

Who can benefit from Art Therapy?

The short answer: anyone. 

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The long answer: anyone who is having difficulty expressing their emotions verbally. Many populations benefit from art therapy over traditional verbal therapy:

• Trauma 

• Selective Mutism

• Seperation Anxiety 

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Intellectual Disabilities 

• Children and Teens