What is Art Therapy. Historical two roads Art As Therapy Art Psychotherapy It is really a continuum of Practice and most art therapists use both.

What is Art Therapy

Historical two roads Art As Therapy Art Psychotherapy

It is really a continuum of Practice and most art therapists use both.

Art As Therapy embodies the idea

that art making is, in and of itself, therapeutic and that the creative process is a growth-producing experience.

Art Psychotherapy embraces the idea that

art is a means of symbolic communication and expresses personality, emotions and other aspects of human experience.

In essence, art expressions are used to enhance verbal exchanges between the therapist and the client in this approach.

A combined Definition(Cathy Malchiodi)

Art therapy is the application of the visual arts and the creative process within a therapeutic relationship, to support, maintain, and improve the psychosocial, physical, cognitive and spiritual health of individuals of all ages.

It is based on current and emerging research that art making is a health-enhancing practice that positively impacts the quality of life.

Art therapists are credentialed professionals who purposively use specific art-based approaches with children, adults, groups and families to support, maintain, and improve overall health, physical, emotional and cognitive functioning, interpersonal skills, personal development, and quality of life.

Interpersonal Experience Art therapy is an interpersonal

experience in which a therapist facilitates, guides, witnesses and responds to an individual’s art process and art expressions, based on best practices and current and emerging research.

Different from Self-help and art education Art therapy is different than self-help

experiences in that there is a helping professional and an individual [family or group] seeking assistance from a therapist to make changes. The relationship between a therapist, an individual, and the art process and art products is essential to art therapy and includes purposeful dialogue and specific therapeutic interventions in response to both process and product.

Who does it help people

experiencing developmental, medical, educational, and social or psychological impairment

those who have survived trauma resulting from combat, abuse, and natural disaster; persons with adverse physical health conditions such as cancer, traumatic brain injury, and other health disability; and persons with autism, dementia, depression, and other

disorders.

Where does it happen Private practice Mental and

physical hospitals Prisons Community

programs Schools Mental health

facilities

Veteran Centers Day programs Nursing homes Rehab Facilities Shelters

Theoretical Orientations Psychodynamic Humanistic Gestalt Phenomenological Developmental Personality Theory Cognitive

Behavioral Jungian Artistic

Developmental stages

Expressive Therapies Continuum

more

Materials and Media Unlimited

Traditionally: drawing, painting and clay

My specialty is film and digital media

How to become an art therapist Undergraduate degree with at least 18

credits of studio and 12 credits of psychology

Masters of Art Therapy Program Credential attainment after graduation

from the ATCB (ATR and ATR-BC) Licensing by the state Follow the ethics Code of Professional

Practice