By Parkhi Batra parkhi.batra@gmail.com
“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso
Art therapy is a discipline that fosters one’s psychological, emotional, and physical well-being by utilizing art materials to explore feelings, reduce anxiety, uplift confidence, and resolve other internal conflicts. Art therapy can be a powerful treatment for people who have experienced depression, trauma, medical illness, and social difficulties. There is more to art therapy than simply “drawing your emotions.” As a therapeutic activity, making art can help people gain personal insight and cultivate emotional resilience. Just as a primary care physician may recommend medicine or a change in behavior to help promote one’s physical recuperation, an art therapist may offer art-based therapeutic activities that are tailored to one’s needs; the decision to choose which type of material to create art with, for example, can depend on the person’s particular preferences and treatment plan.
Art therapy includes the application of creative exercises, such as drawing, coloring, painting, assembling collages, or sculpting to assist individuals with expressing themselves artistically and examining the underlying psychological and emotional themes in their art. With the direction of a credentialed art therapist, clients can decipher the symbolic messages frequently found in their art, which can help them understand their feelings and behaviours on a deeper level so they can proceed with improved coping skills. Art therapy is established on the notion that self-expression through making art fosters individuals’ healing processes and a more profound understanding of themselves. Art therapy incorporates psychotherapy and visual arts, which can be used in conjunction with other types of therapy. Modalities utilized in art therapy include dancing, music, poetry, and theater. Art therapy consolidates the healing forces of art with the use of techniques in psychotherapy to ultimately improve an individual’s overall quality of life.
Art therapy helps children, teenagers, and adults investigate their feelings, develop confidence, improve symptoms related to anxiety and depression, and manage addictions, stress, physical illnesses or disabilities. Art therapists work with people in various settings as well, including private counseling, wellness centers, clinics, senior centers, and other organizations. Artistic talent is not a prerequisite for art therapy to succeed; instead, art therapy aims to examine the relationship between one’s “inner world” and one’s creative expression. Artwork can be utilized to recall memories and recount stories that may signify themes and belief systems in one’s unconscious mind.
Those keen on pursuing careers in art therapy are typically required to complete a master’s degree in art therapy or counseling. Graduate projects in art therapy combine visual arts with practices in psychotherapy. Students complete the required coursework in art therapy, psychology, and other related classes, such as studio art. Most projects likewise incorporate an internship or field training component as part of the degree requirement to give students hands-on experience. A master’s program in art therapy takes around two years to complete. In addition to educational requirements, those wishing to pursue a career in art therapy should follow required licensing and certification requirements on a national and state level. Prerequisites to obtain a certification can differ, depending on the kind of accreditation, and can comprise of assessments, practicum hours, and research projects.
References
- “Art Quotes,” More Art Quotes, Art Therapy Blog, accessed April 26, 2020, http://www.arttherapyblog.com/c/art-quotes/#ixzz2SYtZgGua
- “Art Therapy,” Therapy Types, Psychology Today, accessed April 24, 2020, https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/therapy-types/art-therapy
- “Art Therapy,” Art Therapy, Wikipedia, accessed April 24, 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_therapy
- “Masters Degree in Art Therapy Programs,” Counseling Psychology, GradSchools, https://www.gradschools.com/masters/counseling-psychology/art-therapy
- “Creative Healing: Frequently Asked Questions About How Art Therapy Works,” Douglas Mitchell, Good Therapy, assessed April 25, 2020, https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creative-healing-frequently-asked-questions-about-how-art-therapy-works-0722135
