What Really Is Art Therapy?

Art therapy uses and creative process.

Art therapy benefits?

Art therapy’s downsides?

Art therapy instructions?

Art therapy session as an alternative?

Nowadays, people with mental health conditions can seek the assistance of a professional counselor or mental health therapist or board-certified art therapist to help them feel better about themselves.

Going through a rough time can be challenging and heartbreaking all at the same time.

Fortunately, if you decide to seek the help of a counselor, there are already several forms of treatment that you can take advantage of.

Art Therapy Benefits

What’s art therapy and how do creative therapy techniques work with art therapists?

Both art therapy and creative therapy are not so popular compared to other forms of psychotherapy such as counseling.

This method involves encouraging patients to become more expressive arts about their feelings and emotions through a creative process, including art making. It involves self-expression to work on your mental well-being.

Being More Expressive With Feelings And Emotions Through A Creative Process

According to the Art Therapy Credentials Board, the persons subjected to the art therapy treatment with an art therapist from the American Art Therapy Association are encouraged to get involved in drawing, painting, coloring, and other related field activities to improve their health.

The American Art Therapy Association in the City of Alexandria, VA state that [it] can be an effective mental health treatment for individuals who have experienced trauma, trauma symptoms, depression, medical illness, eating disorders and social work difficulties. — Douglas Mitchell, LMFT

Art Improves Your Mental Health

Is expressive arts therapy beneficial to our well-being?

How do therapists or credentialed art therapists work?

Art therapy is necessary for those who want to improve their mental health problems, especially clients healing from post-traumatic stress disorder, with the help of art therapists or a social worker. There are no educational requirements to try creative therapy and other artworks.

If you are having some troubles at home or feeling too much stress in any aspect of your life, the best thing to do is to explore creative psychotherapy treatment, which can be beneficial for your mental health. Promise, art therapists work!

These Are Some Of The Advantages That You Can Get From This Treatment Focusing On Creativity:

• It allows you to become more aware and in touch with how you feel and what you are thinking.
• It will inspire you to become more confident about yourself, work more on boosting self-esteem, develop self-awareness, and how you handle all the issues that come your way.
• It will enable you to let go of all the negative emotions associated with it.
• It will help you develop social skills with your interaction with other people with artistic experience.

Creative expression can help quiet the mind and open up new ways of looking at life experiences while allowing memories, feelings and emotions to surface. Engaging in creative processes of this treatment can help identify and transform those feelings and emotions on a deeper understanding level. — Barbara Mosinski, LCAT, ATR-BC, MA, MFA

The best thing about art therapy is that anyone can use it as a coping skill to recover from a traumatic experience or an unpleasant event. Try to look for a creative class around you or a formal program to create art.

Enjoying Creative Treatment

Suggestions For Things/Activities Under Art Therapy:

1. Dancing

2. Painting

3. Sculpting

4. Writing or Journaling

5. Acting

6. Completing DIY projects

7. Joining calligraphy and other related workshops

Finding A Professional To Help You With The Process

While creative treatment is something you can do on your own research, the process is still highly recommended by experts to find a professional to help you, especially children.

A variety of exercises and activities are best performed by a board-certified art therapist with art therapy credentials. Otherwise, you may do them wrongfully, leading to more serious work problems in the future. But, remember that creative treatment can help foster healing from emotional trauma.

Despite the current movement to establish art therapists as a distinct license-drive professional credentials, over the past decade art counseling education has married its master’s degree in art and curriculum to the field of counseling. This marriage has been one of convenience so that therapists could qualify for counselor licensure in as many states as possible. — Cathy Malchiodi PhD, LPCC, LPAT, ATR-BC, REAT

A Form Of Treatment That Is Fun And Easy

Since art therapy is a form of psychotherapy or therapy that involves art, the process can be fun and easy. Just make sure to participate with your trained professional.

Do not give her a hard time during the art-making sessions. Instead, try to give her a chance to help you with music therapy or art therapy sessions.

Keep in mind that if you want to heal, you have to allow others to help you do it.

To know more information about counseling via this treatment, check BetterHelp’s website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Difference Between Art Therapy And Therapeutic Art?Art therapy involves the guidance of a mental health professional using creative processes to treat mental conditions, whereas therapeutic art is personal artistic creation without necessarily the direction of a therapist, often used for self-expression and well-being.

What are the 4 types of art therapy?

The four common types of art therapy are visual art therapy, verbal art therapy, movement-based art therapy, and digital art therapy.

What is considered art therapy?

Art therapy is considered when a trained therapist uses creative processes to help individuals address emotional and mental health issues.

What are the 3 uses of art therapy?

Art therapy is used to treat mental health conditions, promote self-expression and self-awareness, and enhance quality of life through creativity.

How do I train to be an art therapist?

To become an art therapist, you need to earn a degree in art therapy, complete supervised practical training, and obtain certification.

Is art therapy good for mental illness?

Yes, art therapy can be effective in treating various mental illnesses when guided by a professional.

Can art therapy help with anxiety?

Yes, art therapy can help reduce anxiety by providing a means to express and process emotions.

What is the goal of art therapy?

The goal of art therapy is to improve mental and emotional health through creative self-expression and problem-solving.

What makes a good art therapist?

A good art therapist should be compassionate, empathetic, creative, and have a strong background in both art and psychology.

How long are art therapy sessions?

The duration of art therapy sessions can vary, but they typically last 45 to 60 minutes, similar to traditional therapy sessions.