Art Therapy

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Art Therapy

• Chapter 11

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• Draw me how you feel.
• Sharlene Gin

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The Origins of Art Therapy

• Art as a personal expression dates back to
  prehistoric times
• Art as a form of psychotherapy dates back to
  Freud Jung
• In 1969 the American Art Therapy Association was
  founded

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What Is Art Therapy?

• Art therapy is described as the creative use of
  art to provide for nonverbal expression and
  communication through which to foster
  self-awareness and personal growth.

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Goals of Art Therapy

• Art therapy is recognized for its many
  therapeutic effects on aspects of mental,
  physical, spiritual, and most notably, emotional
  well-being.

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Goals of Art Therapy (continued)

• To provide a means for strengthening the ego
• To provide a cathartic experience
• To provide a means to uncover anger

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Goals of Art Therapy (continued)

• To offer an avenue to reduce guilt
• To facilitate impulse control
• To help patients/clients use as a new outlet
  during incapacitating illness

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Clinical Uses of Art Therapy

• Veteran hospitals
• Eating disorders
• Criminals
• Abused children
• Drug rehabilitation
• Emotionally disturbed

• Young children
• College students
• Cancer patients
• Chronic pain

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Steps to Initiate Art Therapy

• Getting past artists roadblocks
• A choice of materials
• Illustrative themes
• Interpretations

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Interpretations

• Every line, point, color, and image means
  something
• Interpretations may not be immediate to the
  artist
• Only the artist is best qualified to make an
  interpretation
• The role of a therapist is to aid the artist in
  this process
• Interpretations are part of the healing process

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Interpretation of Color in Art Therapy
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Illustrative Themes

• Draw yourself
• Draw something that represents you
• Draw a fantasy animal
• Close your eyes and draw a line on paper
• Draw a house
• Draw an expression of anger/fear
• Draw a healing image of you
• Draw a peaceful image
• Draw how you feel right now
• Draw a dream image

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Best Application of Art Therapy

• A great way to call on the wisdom of the
  unconscious mind
• A great way to release emotions that are pent up
• A great way to start the resolution process of a
  stressor