Art+Therapy=?

"You do not have to be an artist to use art therapy" - Angelina Rodriguez

Art therapy is a combination of both art and psychotherapy. It is more useful than regular talk therapy in several ways. A lot of times it is difficult for an individual, at any age, to open up to a complete stranger for a hour or so. Art therapy uses materials to help people describe on paper what they are feeling, instead of being expected to openly express themselves. Art therapy is a variety of things, it's not just a pencil and paper. Many people use; sound art, performance arts, visual arts, expressive arts, (music, theater, dancing, journalism, poetry, writing, painting, sketching, and communications).

How does an art therapy session go? Different art therapy sessions can happen in different ways. Usually the client will walk into a room displayed with different materials. The client is then asked to express them selves, their personality, and the way the client is currently feeling.

Art therapy is usually more common in children, although children usually don't have advanced social skills. Using materials and paper can help them 'talk'. People usually deny the fact that children may have some serious issues, although if children don't have social skills, how can you tell? A lot of young kids get bullied in school or at home, and usually don't even know that there is a way to vent the way that they are feeling. The child's self esteem is usually enhanced in different areas of a child's mental health.

Adults aren't much different than children when it comes to uses in art therapy. They have much different reasons to use art therapy, although the benefits are usually the same. Adults do hopefully have social skills, but have problems shutting down, and admitting their own feelings. Many adults who use art therapy go for a specific reason. Seniors with Alzheimer's use art therapy to help them connect to the person that they used to be. New parents use art therapy to help them become better role models to their kids. Adults going through a divorce, coming out of abused relationships, or have problems at work, can all benefit from art therapy.

Citations:

Caldwell, Lore. "Welcome to Growing Up Easier Publishing." Help Children Overcome Problems Such as Abuse, Learning Problems, Autism and More, Growing Up Easier. Growing up Easier, 2008. Web. 02 July 2013.

Hansard, Glen. "Art Therapy: A Documentary." YouTube. YouTube, 08 Oct. 2012. Web. 02 July 2013.