What is Art Therapy ?
"Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. A goal in art therapy is to improve or restore a client’s functioning and his or her sense of personal well- being. Art therapy practice requires knowledge of visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art forms) and the creative process, as well as of human development, psychological, and counseling theories and techniques."
--American Art Therapy Association-
http://www.arttherapy.org/aata-aboutus.html#whatisarttherapy
What are the benefits of art therapy ?
Art therapy has been proven to be a useful tool for stress management, anxiety and depression. The therapeutic approaches art therapy offers can make communication between the therapist and client easier. This can be beneficial to clients who struggle with the ability to verbally convey their stressors to others. Coupled with coping skills and sober leisure activities, art therapy can be used as a powerful recovery tool to combat substance abuse and addiction.
Art creation is not mandatory for every session, it is always an "option". Some people can feel intimidated when asked to draw in front of others especially during a therapy session. I have found that clients come to enjoy the art therapy process once they let their guard down and establish trust with their therapist. My job as an art therapist is not to critique or judge your artistic abilities, but rather see into your lived experience by observing your approach with specific art materials, directives and assessments.
What to expect?
Art creation is not mandatory for every session, it is always an "option". Some people can feel intimidated when asked to draw in front of others especially during a therapy session. I have found that clients come to enjoy the art therapy process once they let their guard down and establish trust with their therapist. My job as an art therapist is not to critique or judge your artistic abilities, but rather see into your lived experience by observing your interactions with specific art materials, or art therapy assessments. Art materials will vary during each session depending on the clients response to each art therapy directive.
The initial consultation is free.
Sessions range from 30 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the needs of the client.