What Can Art Therapy Help With?

An art therapist may use a variety of art methods, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and collage with clients ranging from young children to older adults.Clients who have experienced emotional trauma, physical violence, domestic abuse, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues can benefit from expressing themselves creatively.

Some situations in which art therapy might be utilised:

Adults experiencing severe stress
Children experiencing behavioural or social problems at school/home
Children or adults who have experienced a traumatic event
Children with learning disabilities
Individuals living with a brain injury
People experiencing mental health problems

Misconceptions

You Have to Be Artistic

People do not need to have artistic ability or special talent to participate in art therapy, and people of all ages including children, teens, and adults can benefit from it. Some research suggests that just the act of creating art can play a part in boosting mental health.

It's the Same as an Art Class

People often wonder how an art therapy session differs from an art class. While an art class is focused on teaching technique or skills to help people create a specific finished product, art therapy is more about letting clients focus on their inner experience. In creating art, people are able to focus on their own perceptions, imagination, and feelings. Clients are encouraged to create art that expresses their inner world more than making something that is an expression of the outer world.

Effectiveness

In studies of adults who experienced trauma, art therapy was found to significantly reduce trauma symptoms and decrease levels of depression. One review found that this technique helped patients undergoing medical treatment for cancer improve their quality of life and alleviated a variety of psychological symptoms. One study revealed art therapy reduced depression and increased self-esteem in older adults living in nursing home.

Written by: Tan Poh Ching

03/2024

References

Cherry, K. (2024, December 11). Art therapy: Definition, types, techniques, and efficacy. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-art-therapy-2795755