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Where Does Art End and Therapy Begin?
Some people have come to question my use of the term “art therapy” on this site. While there is nothing wrong with this, I feel that this is a topic worth addressing as there may be other readers who feel the same way.
One visitor to the site, Fiona, made the following comment on the benefits page that I’d like to address:
“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 am not saying that anyone can learn “art therapy.” Fiona’s interpretation of art therapy may differ from mine. The intrinsic value of therapy is going to be different for everyone and subject to the individual’s needs. Some people may need or want an art therapist…and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, I’d encourage it if that’s what the individual wants or needs. However, I don’t believe everyone always needs an art therapist present to achieve therapeutic results.
I very much disagree with Fiona’s last statement about art work created away from an art therapy environment not being therapy, just art. I feel like that really undermines what art therapy is about. I know this is a rather cliché approach, but I’m going to pull the dictionary out for the sake of meaning.
The definition of therapy according to dictionary.com:
- the treatment of disease or disorders, as by some remedial, rehabilitating, or curative process: speech therapy.
- a curative power or quality.
- psychotherapy.
- any act, hobby, task, program, etc., that relieves tension.
These definitions lend themselves to exactly what this site is about. From my perspective, therapy is better defined by the individual. If walking around a park helps you relieve tension, that’s therapy. If painting is a remedial or rehabilitative process for you, it’s therapy…more specifically, it’s art therapy. Any act or hobby that is curative or healing in some way would be considered therapy. If that act or hobby is art, then that is art therapy.
You absolutely do not need an art therapist present to benefit from art therapy. However, the benefits will most likely be greater with an art therapist present…I have always said that and will be the first to admit it. But some people may not want to seek “professional” help right away, and in fact, they may want to do some exploration on their own, in private.
Art is a form of communication, just like talking, writing, or any of the various forms of non-verbal communication we use daily. Whether we all would like to admit it or not, talking to a friend in a time of need can be therapeutic. Writing in your journal can be therapeutic. Creating a piece of art can be therapeutic. In a lot of instances (not all), it’s the act of communicating that is, in and of itself, therapeutic.
So, where does art end and therapy begin? There is no easy answer to that…but I think it depends on the person. Simply put, if creating art is therapeutic, that’s art therapy. If there is more “therapy” that happens after the art…well, that’s just good ‘ol therapy.
Filed as General |2 Responses to “Where Does Art End and Therapy Begin?”
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Thanks for your response to my comment. I agree that undeniably art has always throughout history had a therapeutic benefit: Van Gogh and millions of other artists (famous or those working anon at their kitchen table) are a testament to it. This very attribute is what makes art therapy such a powerful medium. Perhaps the differing of titles such as art therapist and art psychotherapist don’t help in the ambigutiy as to where the therapy begins and ends. As a trained and registered art therapist I am bound by a code of Ehics that ensures that I am Supervised, Insured, updating my training, and that I ‘do not harm’ by being aware of the psychdynamics of a therapeutic relationship.I have encountered many artists who work as artists within health care fields and it is an enormously beneficial medium however art therapy as a profession must always keep the client safe: I believe it is vitally important to ensure that a client is aware that they should and need to clarify with a potential therapist what their qualifications, philosophy, ethical boundaries etc are before embarking on a therapeutic journey at a vulnerable time of their lives. If this transpenancy is present and the client is aware that they are distinct differences between working with an art therapist and creating art alone then ‘no harm’ is a more likely outcome. As an artist myself I live a distinct difference between creating art and art therapy. I use my journal for dream work etc but for me the depths are only safely plumbed with the presence of the objective, safe guarded presence of an art therapist. The art(psyho)therapy is within the therapeutic alliance of client, art work and art therapist.
Fiona, thanks for the insightful comments. I definitely agree that a registered therapist of any discipline, art or otherwise, should be bound by a code of ethics, be insured, etc. I certainly understand the challenge and responsibility you must adhere to as a professional art therapist.
You also bring up an excellent point that anyone seeking professional help should inquire about…clarifying with a potential therapist their qualifications, philosophy/style, and ethics. I’m sure there are instances where a “poor” professional therapy experience could have been avoided if this advice was taken.
Additionally, I think one thing we haven’t really mentioned is expectations. I think an important distinction to make is the difference between professional therapy and, for lack of a better word, “everyday” therapy. It’s likely that a person looking to perform or enhance their “everyday” art therapy might not have the same expectations as someone utilizing professional art therapy.
With regards to this site, obviously we use the term “therapy” more broadly, referring to more than just professional therapy.
Thanks again Fiona, your comments are always appreciated!