What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that involves the use of art materials and the making of artwork. It is very different to art teaching as it is not concerned with the learning of new skills or technical competence. The images are therefore not judged for their artistic merit but are seen as possessing potential meanings, such as thoughts, dreams, memories and feelings etc.

Art has long been known to have therapeutic qualities and using art materials to make images can be a helpful way of communicating thoughts and feelings and to depict experiences that may be hard to put into words. It is used as a means of helping the person to communicate their inner state and each individual can find their own meanings within the images and the image making process.

The act of doing something creative that doesn’t involve a need to be skilful or to make something aesthetically pleasing – be it through painting, drawing or experiencing the sensory input of other materials – can be very soothing. It can also evoke other feeling states that are able to be explored within the safety of the sessions. It is a way of helping a person communicate their inner state, as well as release their feelings, and work through a process of self-healing over which they themselves have some control.

More information about art therapy can be found on the British Association of Art Therapists website (http://www.baat.org)
Also, here are some links to videos about art therapy - What is Art Therapy? & In their own words. Stories from service users.

I recommend reading this blog for more information on the benefits of using art therapy -Why do people choose Art Therapy –