| Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy where the | | | | few years, scientific research has discovered how |
| individual engages in creative self-expression to | | | | fear-based emotions, negative thoughts and |
| decrease pain, gain insight, and tap into one's thoughts, | | | | suppressed feelings can trigger physiological stress on |
| feelings and emotions--it is not concerned with how | | | | the body in turn directly affecting the immune system. |
| artistic or how well a person can draw or paint or | | | | As we begin to heal emotional wounds, the body |
| work with clay. It is about the process of | | | | begins to heal also. One of the goals I have when |
| self-expression and not the product. It is about getting | | | | working with a client is for them to find balance |
| feelings out in a creative manner without the filter of | | | | between the right and the left brain. This way, not |
| words. When working with imagery, the client is | | | | residing completely in the emotional brain or living stictly |
| accessing the right brain, the part of the brain where | | | | in the analytical brain. Through the creative process, I |
| emotions reside--not the analytical left brain. Though | | | | assist baby-boomers better move through life |
| clients can talk about the meaning the art has for them | | | | transitions and discover acceptance and peace with |
| and any reactions they experience, as an art therapist, | | | | the aging process. |
| I do not assume to know what a client's art means nor | | | | Art therapy is a master's level profession with training |
| do I interpret their work. I do maintain a sense of | | | | in psychology and visual arts. When seeking an art |
| curiosity about their art and might ask a question such | | | | therapist, it is important to work with someone who is |
| as, "Tell me about this drawing?", or "What might this | | | | trained in the field of art therapy or expressive arts. |
| image be feeling?" I leave interpretation up to the client. | | | | Many therapists claim to use art, though they are not |
| Art therapy is used in hospitals, clinics, rehab facilitites, | | | | trained specifically in art therapy. When asked how I |
| schools, private practice and in senior centers. It is used | | | | work, I explain that I invite clients to take part in an art |
| with children, teens and adults, older adults and with | | | | directive. For instance, I might ask, "What might that |
| families and couples. It is used to promote and | | | | anger look like if you put it down on paper?" "What |
| enhance physical, emotional and mental health by using | | | | color, shape, or size might it be?" I might suggest that |
| creative expression. Taking part in artmaking helps | | | | they use their nondominant hand to draw or that they |
| decrease anxiety, stress, depression and increase | | | | create an image out of clay that represents how they |
| self-awareness, self-esteem, relationship difficulties and | | | | feel that day. Even the simple act of doodling can |
| behavior and developmental delays while providing | | | | provide a relaxing and contemplative experience. For |
| insight into one's life. I explain that art therapy is not an | | | | people that suffer from anxiety, I many times |
| art class though the process might inspire a person to | | | | recommend keeping a doodle journal with them. This |
| pick up pastels and draw on their own. Children | | | | way, when they begin to experience worry or |
| gravitate towards the use of art and approach | | | | anxiousness, they can doodle. If a client feels |
| creativity with imagination and freedom and play | | | | uncomfortable drawing, I offer alternative art forms, |
| without judgment or self-criticism. They enjoy | | | | such as collage using magazine cutouts. |
| experimenting with new art materials and soon | | | | During the artmaking process, I recommend to the |
| discover creative tools to handle difficult emotions such | | | | client that they work without talking in this way the |
| as anger. Art therapy is beneficial in helping children | | | | nonverbal right brain is dominant allowing easier access |
| diagnosed with ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, fear, | | | | to emotions. I leave time to discuss the artmaking and |
| and the challenges of living with a chronic illness. As | | | | time for any other reflection the client might have. I |
| we age, we begin to seek perfection in ourselves and, | | | | keep the art in a safe place or, if the client wishes, |
| through creative expression, clients can learn to silence | | | | they can bring their art home with them. I provide all of |
| the voice of the internal critic and become more | | | | the art materials including pastels, markers, crayons, |
| self-aware of their negative thoughts and irrational | | | | colored pencils, paint, collage materials, clay and paper. |
| beliefs. I invite clients to let the page hold the feeling(s) | | | | Where the imagination is concerned, the items we can |
| where we can explore them together. I suggest to | | | | work with appears endless. Children love working with |
| clients that, instead of letting the feeling fester inside of | | | | pipe cleaners popsicle sticks and "Model Magic" as |
| them, why not allow the art to be the container. | | | | these objects provide a tactile experience for them. |
| If a client has a reaction to an art piece, I provide a | | | | For young and old, the practice of art therapy is a |
| safe place to explore the feelings that surface. Many | | | | safe place where feelings and imagination meet for |
| adults are surprised how art can facilitate the | | | | both young and old. |
| expression of feelings and emotions easier and quicker | | | | If you have questions about the practice of art therapy |
| than traditional talk therapy. I explain that when we look | | | | or are interested in scheduling an appointment, please |
| at an image of a loved one or a visual image of a | | | | feel free to contact me at 310-922-3957. More |
| place that we have strong feelings for, we many | | | | information about art therapy can also be found on the |
| times experience a physical response. It is the same | | | | website of the American Associations of Art Therapy |
| when we create expressive art and images. In the last | | | | (arttherapy.org). |