THERAPEUTIC ART AND THE THERAPEUTIC PROCESS

Therapeutic Art is a type of eloquent therapy used by an art therapist. 

Therapeutic Art can bring enormous benefits to a person’s emotional and physical well being.

Working with an art therapist will encourage you to express yourself freely, whilst you develop and explore your thoughts and feelings.

Therapeutic Art is a therapeutic healing process, that aids self confidence and a deeper sense of self worth.

YOU DON’T NEED TO BE TALENTED AT ART TO BENEFIT FROM THE THERAPEUTIC PROCESS OF THERAPEUTIC ART

Therapeutic Art doesn’t require you to be artistic (if you don’t want to be).

Working with an art therapist, means that they can interpret any messages that may be displayed in your artwork.

There are many facets to Therapeutic Art, with different people experiencing different things.  An art therapist can provide Therapeutic Art for psychotherapy or counselling, as a healing treatment, as a form of rehabilitation, or just to help a person have a greater understanding and a deeper sense of self awareness.

AN ART THERAPIST FOCUSES ON THE CREATIVE PROCESS

There are many different definitions of Therapeutic Art, for example, expressive Therapeutic Art or creative Therapeutic Art, but the goals and aims are the same.

Therapeutic Art uses the principles, techniques and theories behind other psychotherapeutic modalities, with focus being on the creative process, as a whole.

Therapeutic Art sessions can help improve a person’s cognition, as well as being excellent practise for developing coping strategies and management techniques.

Therapeutic Art sessions can also be created for groups as well as individuals.

Although the overall aim of Therapeutic Art is to improve a person’s well being, for some people, working with an art therapist is appealing, as it is an outlet for creativity.

THERAPEUTIC ART CAN COME IN MANY FORMS

Therapeutic Art is an amazing way of communicating.  This can be especially true, when we just can’t find the right words.

An art therapist treating a client, is looking for nonverbal concepts within their art.  These can sometimes appear as metaphors.  Metaphors are a communication style that is used by a person when they have difficulty in articulating certain ideas.  Other things that a skilled art therapist may look for, include things like symbols and patterns.

Colouring in for adults and children alike, has proven to be a fantastic form of Therapeutic Art.  Colouring in, helps relieve stress and is a form of active meditation.

PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATIONS