ABOUT ART THERAPY
© 2008-2009 The Art Therapy Alliance
Art therapy is the deliberate use of art-making to address psychological and emotional needs. Art therapy uses art media and the creative process to help in areas such as, but not limited to: fostering self-expression, create coping skills, manage stress, and strengthen sense of self. Art therapy has provided mental health treatment for clients who have experienced trauma, grief & loss, depression, chronic illness, substance abuse, and more.
Art therapists are Master level mental health professionals trained in the use of art and media, as well as psychological and counseling approaches. Art therapists work with a range of populations including: children, adolescents, adults, older adults, couples, and families. Art therapists work in mental health agencies, school districts, community programs, residential treatment programs, shelters, hospitals, correctional facilities, hospices, wellness centers, and in private practice.
More about Art Therapy from the
"The use of art therapy has been documented with a variety of populations including children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly; people with addictions; individuals with serious and sometimes terminal illness; war veterans; people with disabilities; families experiencing difficulties; prisoners; and individuals experiencing a wide spectrum of emotional disorders. You may have heard of art therapy being used with children who have been traumatized by abuse, with troubled families to explore their problems, or with disabled older adults in nursing homes. You may know of a psychologist who asks his or her patients to make drawings as part of their therapy or an expressive therapist who uses art to help people deal with chronic pain or other symptoms. You may have read in the newspaper about an artist who works with paraplegics, helping them paint, or about a therapist who has created an art studio for disabled adults. There may be an art therapist who works in your local school system with children with learning or developmental problems, or one who works at the medical center in your community with children and adults with cancer. These are all common examples of where art therapy is used, demonstrating the vast diversity of the field."
Also check out: What is Art Therapy? resources from the International Art Therapy Organization (IATO), including free two page monograph.
Art Therapist Profile Links:
