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Art
Therapy
Art therapy is a type of expressive therapy in which
image making, created within a therapeutic relationship,
is used to promote personal growth and healing for
people of all ages. By creating imagery and reflecting
on the art products and processes, clients can express
and become aware of inner development, concerns,
strengths, conflicts as well as deep hopes and
aspirations. Because image making uses right-brained,
intuitive processes, it accesses the personality and
psyche in a very different way from verbal therapy. A
remarkable alchemy or transformation takes place when
the image is honored by being truly seen. The created
image works as a "third partner" in the therapy hour,
metaphorically speaking in its own voice. Art therapy
is an excellent way to explore what is still unconscious
in our psyches, and allow it to be assimilated in a
positive, useful way in our everyday lives.
Art therapy may be combined with "talk" therapy to help
a client get out of their heads, access deep feelings,
or to help those who have difficulty expressing
themselves with words. It is a perfect partner to
Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, providing a visual
expression of conflicts and inappropriate behavior
patterns, as well as their creative, appropriate
resolutions. The images can then be shared with the
primary therapist.
If art therapy is chosen as the sole form of therapy,
the client and therapist will spend time both talking
and working with images. This choice might be
appropriate for clients interested in developing their
creativity, clients who feel particularly blocked and
are looking for a deeper purpose to their lives, or
those who are simply attracted to artistic expression,
symbols and imagery.
Art therapy clients need have no artistic skill, only a
willingness to make images, a desire to explore their
left-brained, intuitive visual language and dream
images, and a compelling wish or need to better resolve
and understand the driving forces of their inner world.
Images "speak" the hopes, possibilities, conflicts and
limitations within us that need to be witnessed in order
for our best self to develop.
As the old saying goes: "A picture is worth a thousand
words."
Click here to view other forms of expressive therapy.
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