Art Therapy: what is it and how is the art used?
One of the most common response I get when letting others know I am an Art Therapist is: “wow, that’s so cool!” Followed by “so what does that look like?” or “how do you use the art in sessions?”
Let’s get into it…
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy is the use of art-making (think drawing, coloring, collage, painting, clay, mask making, crafting, etc) and the creative process as a support and tool in the therapeutic space.
In other words, as an Art Therapist, I am able to support clients on their healing journey with the help of a non-verbal modality. Using the art in sessions can be a beautiful way to access what is not always known or understood rationally but is felt inside our bodies.
The art-making process is crucial to the Art Therapy space. The goal in Art Therapy is rarely (if ever) about the final product but rather about the client’s experience, process and journey along the way. Since the art-making process can be so dynamic, there are different ways it can be used in sessions - this will vary by the Art Therapist’s framework and by client goals in sessions. Some Art Therapists may only use the art in one of these ways and some may use a mix of them all. Let’s talk about three different ways the art-making can be used in a session.
To gain perspective
There may be times in a session where a client may be reflecting on a particular issue, dynamic or challenge in their life. The client may be struggling to understand the situation - why it may be affecting them, what they dynamics present are, who is involved, etc.
In those moments, the Art Therapist may suggest the client create some art to reflect on the situation. An example of this would be using clay to create figures to represent family members. The Art Therapist may then guide the client to move the figures around, discuss everyone’s role, etc.
This process can help the client to gain some external perspective, while still through their own eyes, to better understand the experience present.
Emotional Expression
The art-making process can also be a beautiful way for a client to explore and then express their inner emotions without needing to use words. This can look like drawing a symbol or shape to represent an internal sensation or emotion. It can also be drawing out what the clients emotion or experience would look like if it were a character.
This process allows for the client to be able to express their inner experience when it may feel challenging or even triggering to find or use the words to do so.
To self soothe
There may be times in a session where a client may be feeling anxious, nervous, overwhelmed, triggered, etc. The art-making can serve as a way for the client to self-soothe and calm their nervous system. This can be in the form of coloring in a mandala (what you may notice yourself doing on your own at times). This can also be the act of making a collage in session as you may be exploring topics or talking about your recent experiences. Or, it may also be using a material, such as chalk pastels, to be able to smooth out lines and mix colors.
Are you curious to learn or start this journey for yourself? Schedule a FREE 20 minute consultation call with me today where we can discuss further what you are looking for and see if working together feels like a good fit for us both!
Disclaimer: this is by no means an exhaustive list but rather ways in which I tend to incorporate the art-making process in my therapy sessions. These options are also not a substitute for therapy if you do them on your own. Know that in order for it to be called and considered Art Therapy, it must be supported by an Art Therapist (who is professionally trained and credentialed) otherwise you are simply engaging in therapeutic art-making. All the images shown about are personal art-work I have created for demonstrative purposes.
