32 Facts About Art therapy

Art therapy is a distinct discipline that incorporates creative methods of expression through visual art media.

Analytic art therapy is based on the theories that come from analytical psychology, and in more cases, psychoanalysis.

Analytic art therapy focuses on the client, the therapist, and the ideas that are transferred between the both of them through art.

The last way art therapy is looked at is through the lens of art as therapy.

Some art therapists practicing art as therapy believe that analyzing the client's artwork verbally is not essential, therefore they stress the creation process of the art instead.

Art therapy can be used to help people improve cognitive and sensory motor function, self-esteem, self awareness, and emotional resilience.

Current art therapy includes a vast number of other approaches such as person-centered, cognitive, behavior, Gestalt, narrative, Adlerian, and family.

The tenets of art therapy involve humanism, creativity, reconciling emotional conflicts, fostering self-awareness, and personal growth.

Art therapy had been used at the time for various reasons: communication, inducing creativity in children, and in religious contexts.

Art therapy wrote that the value of art therapy lay in "completely engrossing the mind …releasing the creative energy of the frequently inhibited patient", which enabled the patient to "build up a strong defence against his misfortunes".

Art therapy can be found in non-clinical settings, as well as in art studios and in creativity development workshops.

Art therapy therapists provide services to children, adolescents, and adults, whether as individuals, couples, families, or groups.

Art therapy-making is a common activity used by many people to cope with illness.

Art therapy can be a refuge for the intense emotions associated with illness; there are no limits to the imagination in finding creative ways to express emotions.

Art therapy helps give security to emotions to those if they are not comfortable sharing their emotions to others, but can trust a canvas or sheet of paper to hold onto those emotions.

Art therapy has been found useful for supporting patients during the stress of such things as chemotherapy treatment.

Art therapy therapists have conducted studies to understand why some cancer patients turn to art making as a coping mechanism and a tool to creating a positive identity outside of being a cancer patient.

In turn, those who had art therapy treatment felt more connected to others and found social interaction more enjoyable than individuals who did not receive art therapy treatment.

Furthermore, art therapy improved motivation levels, ability to discuss emotional and physical health, general well-being, and increased global quality of life in cancer patients.

In sum, relatively short-term intervention of art therapy that is individualized to patients has the potential to significantly improve emotional state and quality of life, while reducing perceived symptoms relating to the cancer diagnosis.

Art therapy has been used in a variety of traumatic experiences, including disaster relief and crisis intervention.

Art therapy therapists have worked with children, adolescents and adults after natural and manmade disasters, encouraging them to make art in response to their experiences.

Art therapy had no clear results on affecting memory or emotional well-being scales.

Art therapy is increasingly recognized to help address challenges of people with autism.

Art therapy is thought to promote emotional and mental growth by allowing self expression, visual communication, and creativity.

Group art therapy has been shown to improve some symptoms of schizophrenia.

Studies conducted by Regev reveal that geriatric art therapy has been significantly useful in helping depression for the elderly, although not particularly successful among dementia patients.

Art therapy has an established history of being used to treat veterans, with the American Art Therapy Association documenting its use as early as 1945.

Findings revealed that art therapy reduces levels of stress and burnout related to patients' professions.

Art therapy can be successfully applied to clients with physical, mental or emotional problems, diseases and disorders.

Art therapy is often offered in schools as a form of therapy for children because of their creativity and interest in art as a means of expression.

Art therapy professionals have been accused of not putting enough emphasis on the artistic value and meaning of the artist's works, considering them only from a medical perspective.