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Who Uses Art Therapy?
Anyone can use art therapy. Art therapy can effectively treat people of all ages. Anyone from groups or communities to individuals to familes to people in all sorts of relationships can use art as therapy.
Common uses of art therapy
Common uses of art therapy include, but are not limited to, the following:
- People under lots of stress or pressure may use art as therapy.
- Managers and/or staff may be someone who uses art therapy.
- Someone who has mental health problems uses art therapy.
- Someone with learning disabilities or difficulties can use art as therapy.
- Children or young adults having problems in school can use art therapy.
- Kids, teenagers, or adults with personal problems can benefit from using art therapy.
- People with more serious issues can make use of art therapy…For example, people with autism, brain injuries, eating disorders, cancer, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, etc.
- Someone who believes they are problem-free and simply would like to explore themselves more deeply can be someone who uses art therapy.
As you can see, anyone can use art therapy…and anyone who uses art therapy is capable of benefiting from it in some way. There are benefits from simply using the arts as a creative outlet in one’s life, regardless of whether you are seeing an art therapist. Now obviously, there are going to be strong advantages to seeing an art therapist as opposed to someone who is using art therapy alone. At that point, it’s probably not technically called art therapy. But hey, if it’s therapeutic for you to draw or paint a few times a week (without an art therapist), then I would consider that therapy. Sure, it’s not “professional” therapy, but who says art therapy always has to be professional?
Comments (24)24 Responses to “Who Uses Art Therapy?”
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[...] stress disorders, regular ‘ol stress, and even a new way to self-discovery. Read more about what art therapy is and who uses art [...]
I encourage readers to consult with the American Art Therapy Association and the Art Therapy Credentials Board for an official definition of the profession of art therapy and appropriate use of the term “art therapist”. Art therapists, all of whom are masters level professionals, have taken graduate level instruction in psychology and art therapy in order to practice. They are bound by a code of ethics, coduct research and practice in clinical and non-clinical settings. Many have also received board certification by taking a national art therapy certification exam and may have other licenses such as Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. In addition, all are required to have taken at least 18 hours of studio art. For more information, see atcb.org and arttherapy.org
@P. Black I plan on adding to the Resources section of this site, but for now, there is a list of the art therapy associations in the U.S., including a link to the American Art Therapy Association.
i just found out ,about this profession, and i love it! it seems like my ideal career! i seem to do art therapy on people all the time when they are stressed out and children ,when they miss there parents and when they are sad , and i feel more connected to people that way too..and it makes me feel good at the same time…
That’s great Erica! Glad to hear you’ve found something you love.
Career Advice, anyone??
Last fall I received my MA Counseling Psych. and through those internships, realized that I don’t want to be a ‘typical’ counselor. I’ve recently learned about the field of art therapy and can’t get enough learning about it! (Too bad I didn’t learn about it before I started my MA.)
The only way for me to become an independently practicing art therapist (in CA) is to get licensed as a MFT; which means to go through 2yrs supervised internships (in addition to enrolling in post-MA art therapy cert.). That is exactly what I don’t want to do, counseling internships.
Should I just suck it up for the next 2yrs to get the license to practice? If I’m going to enroll in the post-MA cert., why don’t I enroll in a PhD if it’d only be another 2yrs? Any thoughts??
(Thanks in advance – I’m stuck with what move to make next.) -B.T.
One segment of the population that you missed is our aging seniors. The ability to do other activities may be diminished, but the need to create remains. Art therapy could be wonderful for seniors.
Recently I fell into a job at a new psych. hospital and am working under an OT who promotes creative therapy. I have a BFA in painting and I just finished a certification program in medical assisting, so this job was a godsend. Getting to utilize my artistic skills in a medical/psych. environment has been truly a joy.
Can a person with a simple BFA in painting find other music/ art therapy jobs out there? In a senior center environment possibly?
Melanie Lamar
This is amazing! I am doing a Senior Culminating projet at my school. I chose to create an audio slideshow about art therapy and its effectiveness on immigrants to the United States. I think that Art Therapy is extremely interseting and I would love to get into this career one day. I can’t wait :]
@Kaitlin, an audio slideshow about art therapy’s effectiveness on immigrants is a great idea…Feel free to share your experience here after your project
Hello,
First of all excuse my bad english, I’m french and hope everyone could understand… I’m an art-therapist working in a psychiatric hospital and also in gerontology field with people who are suffering with alzheimer desease in an advanced stage. I’m looking for clinic testimonials, ideas, everything for improving and open my practice with these patients (Alzheimer in an advanced stage).
Thank you for help and thanks for your blog
I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE OR CHILDREN WITH HEALTH ISSUES, FIND RELIEF FROM PAIN, THROUGH ART THERAPY,I AM HAPPY THAT I FOUND YOUR BLOG.
i am happy to read your pages
Hello!
Anybody can help me in art as therapy towards gifted and talented student with socioemotional problem?
Art,especially art in relation to colours,have a great influence in the healing of a great variety of ailment.Colour appeals to everyone and each colour has its basic healing capacity.In this light,just as there is an AMERICAN ART THERAPY ASSOCIATION,I would indeed like to have a NIGERIAN ART THERAPY ASSOCIATION.How do i go about this? Daniel Israel
i am a senor in hs and planed on majoring in art i just learned about art therapy, i can not find a schools that have a good art program and art therapy can anyone advise me.
thank you.
while using art in painting and drawing this will help the individual to feel a sense of achievement in creating and help their self esteem. This is because the brain is being active at this point and receiving signals of regonition. (In this case being placed on a surface and a piece of paper.) Also coordination with hand movements is helping this process. This occurs with music in particular as brain signals are sent to the body and produce movement and rhythm. This syncronizes with brain experiences and emotions that give also recognition or put into action responses.
Wow I have been undecided these past weeks on what Major to choose before transfering out of community college. My passion is Art and interest is Psychology, so this is PERFECT for me! I would like to specialize in Children mostly though. What Major would i choose if i become an Art Therapist? .. would Psychology be okay? or Psychology and minor in Art perhaps or child development?
Thank You!
I have a BFA already but have been interested in doing this for a living. What other education would I need do this as my career?
Thanks! Dani
i want to learn art therapy. i am intersted in art therapy… i studied it as a subject..
Hi,
I am hoping to get some info. on being an Art Therapist from an Art Therapist?
If someone would email me with a reply or a number to call to get answers I would greatly apreciate it.
My questions are;
What is a Typical day like? What do you dislike/ like about your work? How did you become one or where did you get your degree? How did you find work? What strenghts/talents/skills do you feel are most important to your work? and Where are the jobs (schools, hospitals?)
Hi there, I’m currently working on my thesis and am very excited to start my research as it is about art therapy. I will be using art therapy with children who have experienced traumatic events- they are street children here in our community. From what I’ve read and listened to most art therapist, they said that anyone can really use art therapy, even without the presence of a professional therapist. What is important, is that the adult does not interpret the artwork of the child, but allow the child to be in control of the meaning of his or her artwork. The adult just act as a guide to help the child release emotions in images that are difficult to verbalize in words. This way it serves as therapeutic to the child as it provides a safe outlet for his or her emotions.
hello! i agree that art therapy works because i use it to calm my nerves even when im deppressed
I’ve been on the fence about art therapy for a while now. I recently attended an information session for a graduate program in Art Therapy and found out that art therapy is not a license to practice in Ohio, rather it’s a credential and in order to practice in Ohio I would need to be licensed in Counseling (or the like).
Here’s my question: Can someone without an art therapy credential use art (or writing or music) in the course of therapy with a client? Is that considered unethical? I’m struggling because the only art therapy program in the state is at a small, private college (one that I cannot afford to attend). Advice?
(Continued…)
I am considering attending a less expensive university to pursue either social work or mental health counseling and I’m curious what the “rules” are for using art as part of treatment.
Thanks!