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Benefits of Art Therapy
While therapy and psychotherapy in general have many benefits, the concept of art therapy has proven to be successful in various ways that differ from traditional therapy practice. There are various uses for art therapy with regards to healing, but the benefits may surprise you if you’ve never heard of art as a form of therapy.
Who Benefits from Art Therapy?
Art therapy sets itself apart as a means of therapy by utilizing the creative process of art and having a low barrier to entry (anyone can be creative in some form or another). Art therapy can be especially beneficial to children as younger people are usually less capable and less comfortable expressing themselves via words.
While art therapy can benefit children greatly, it can also be very helpful to adults. Really, anyone can benefit from art therapy. Even if you’re using creative arts as a means of expression without the aid of an art therapist, there are still many benefits to be had. Read about some of these art therapy ideas and activities if you need some help getting started.
Art Therapy Benefits For The Average Person
By expressing yourself through art, an art therapist can help you see things about yourself that you otherwise may not have comprehended. Art therapists can help you process emotions and feelings that you are struggling with, so you can begin healing. Since art therapists are trained in the arts and, obviously, in therapy, they are capable of guiding you through the process of creative expression. They are also quite capable of providing insight into your creations and helping you understand certain aspects of yourself that maybe you didn’t know existed, whether good or bad.
It is this idea of self-exploration that can often lead a person to some insightful conclusions about themselves. Don’t be surprised if the effects of art therapy lead to a general sense of relief and overall better mental health. Again, it’s therapy, but with a completely different ingredient than most people are used to, art.
It’s important to note that you don’t need an art therapist to reap the benefits of art therapy. If you go into art as therapy and learn about the basic concepts and ideas that it represents, then you can learn a lot about yourself through your own isolated creative expression. It’s something you can do on your own to just relieve stress, discover yourself in new ways, etc. It’s also something you can do with other people. It’s truly a beautiful thing when you’re sharing art in an open, friendly, loving environment with other people that are on the same wave.
Art Therapy Benefits For People With More Serious Disorders
Without going into the details of all the possibilities, let’s just say that art therapy can benefit a wide-spectrum of disorders, diseases, and disabilities.
Art therapy can help improve various mental and pysical symptoms including, but not limited to, reducing pain, anxiety, and tension. It can be beneficial to those who have mental disorders, severe or light emotional abuse, cancer, post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), people who are bipolar, and a variety of other serious ailments.
Benefits Of Art Therapy – In Conclusion
Art therapy can also help people with their social skills. The benefits of art therapy in these types of situations can help with people that are withdrawn or shy, or who, for some reason or another, have a difficult time functioning within social situations.
Basically, the benefits of art therapy can be quite broad. It can improve lives by helping people improve their mental, emotional, and even physical states. It can raise the quality of life for many people, and it’s worth considering if it can aid you in some way or another.
Again, maybe it’s just the act of executing creative expression on your own or with others, or maybe it’s seeking professional help with a certified art therapist. Either way, the benefits of art therapy make it worth exploring as a catalyst for healing.
Comments (17)17 Responses to “Benefits of Art Therapy”
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It’s great to read a blog about art therapy that covers it’s complexity so eloquently. I can’t help but question the suggestion that art therapy can be learnt and done at home on your own minus the therapist. I believe a significant portion of the therapy in art therapy is the supportive, witnessing and therapeutic safety net that the presence of a qualified art therapist provides. I agree that art work created away from the art therapy environment can be a stress reliever but argue it’s not therapy; just art.
I hate to relate a negative to a blog that does a great service in ambassadorship to art therapy and I hope I cause no offence. I look forward to reading your continued updates, Yours Fiona
Fiona, thanks for stopping by, commenting, and the nice words about the site. I don’t think your comments are offensive in any way. You bring up an excellent point, and one that I struggle with on this site…where does art end and therapy begin?
I believe it is a valid point that is worth exploring in greater detail. I will address this in greater detail with my next post as this is a topic that deserves more than a comment…
Thanks Fiona!
Hi I’m a sphm at Park University studying Art Therapy, right now I’m a Psychology Major and a fine arts minor. Upon graduation and going into grad school for a more focused degree, where should I begin to look to find a job in this field?
Hi Danielle,
I’d check with your University’s career center, art therapy professors, and/or your advisor if you have one. They can sometimes be very good resources, especially if you would like to work in that city. Even if you don’t want to work in that city, they might have a connection or know of someone who does that can help you get your foot in the door. Besides the connection/networking aspect, it will also show your professors that you have ambition and are really thinking about the future. You may also be able to volunteer or do work-study (if you’re eligible) for one of the appropriate departments. Again, I’d begin my search with the resources around you.
Also, If you’re at all interested, I’m open to having volunteer writers for this site. If you’re interested, reply to this comment and I will contact you with more details. Good Luck Danielle, and let me know how it goes!
Hello,
I just graduated with a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy and am working at a small counseling center. The work I am doing has been so gratifying. I can see the difference creative expression has on each client I have the honor to work with.
If you ever ant me to share any of my experiences I would gladly do that. I also am in the process of creating a web site to promote Art Therapy in my area as well. Any helpful hints you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
I did my research with adolescents last fall. They would be eager to share their art work and insights as well.
Thanks, Jean
Jean, congratulations on getting your Master’s Degree! I’d love to hear more about your experiences and will be in contact with you shortly. Thanks Jean!
I’m an artist and I LOVE art, it’s my passion! For a while now, I’ve been interested in Art Therapy and would love to explore it further. While I would love to teach art, I’m finding the opportunities in my area, Sacramento CA, to be quite small and competitive. However, I feel that Art Therapy would have a wider audience in which more people could benefit. It has certainly helped my son as well as myself. How does one go about getting trained to be an art therapist?
@Sean, I’d look for schools in your area that offer art therapy as a graduate or undergraduate degree, depending on what you want. I plan on exploring training, certification, credentials, schools, jobs etc. more on the site, so stay tuned!
I have written a book called “Creative Expressions: Say it with Art” to promote art education and art therapy in India. I need a help in promoting this book.
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Hallo, I wold to know what’s the best school/institute of AT and expressive psychotherapy, thanks!
I studied a psychotherapy diploma in which we completed a few units on art therapy! unfortunatly I did’nt complete the diploma but hope to one day, but it was very healing for my own issues.This year I joined an art class to learn some techniques and found the pictures I am painting deeply healing.
Your site is fantastic and has encouraged me to look at how I can become a therapist and help ohters like myself..
blessings
@Narelle: Thanks for the wonderful comments…and we’re happy to hear that art therapy has helped you heal!
Hi, and thanks for your website:
I am an artist from way back with a BFA in painting, though I no longer do any art making. I long for it, and have a great studio for it, but feel blocked, unworthy, and untalented. I have way too much expectation surrounding the outcome.
I obviously have issues which art therapy could help; I have been in various types of psychotherapy for years but never art therapy. None of what I’ve tried has helped me at all.
I have read several art therapy books, though not yours (yet!) None have helped me with this block, and the greater issue of low self-esteem. Can you please explain how art therapy helps people? In my own work I’ve never truly felt I was translating emotion into imagery, it’s a big gulf of an unknown to me how this works and/or how it helps.
I’m sorry if this is too long or personal, I just am so curious and looking for help.
Thanks so much,
J
Hello,
I’ve stumbled upon your wonderful site while doing research for a presentation that I have been putting together for a few months now. I am presenting a slideshow of works of art done during art therapy sessions and information about art therapy and its benefits to individuals that partake in it. However, I have been searching painstakingly with no luck for some sort of graph or chart that shows exactly how many indivudals have actually benefitted from art therapy, or at least any sort of list of percentages of of people that felt a positive impact on their lives due to art therapy.
Do you know of any sites that would be able to supply this information?
I really want to prove to my audience that there is hard evidence that art therapy really does work!
Thank you!
Jacee
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