Art Therapy Takes Many Forms
What is art therapy and can it really help you? This is a common question asked by skeptics of this practice. According to the American Art Therapy Association art therapy is, “Art therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.”
Using this type of therapy can help people struggling with depression, anxiety, domestic violence, chronic pain, learning disabilities, autism and even post surgery. It can also help people hone in on their creativity and artistic skills.
Art therapists work in a multitude of settings to help patients. You may be able to find them in hospitals, schools, crisis centers, senior living centers, and rehabilitation centers. Art therapists are highly trained clinicians who specialize in vast forms of art. In New York State, art therapists have to be licensed in order to practice therapy.
Art therapy comes in many different forms so you don’t feel limited in your creativity. Instead of broad therapy for all clients, art therapy is more centered around the person and their interests. There are musical activities, mask making or collage making, it all depends on what you find the most captivating.
No matter what form you are partaking in, art therapy promotes creativity and calmness. Along with bolstering understanding and recovery practices, you can leave sessions with something beautiful to remind you of your healing journey.
Although art therapy can help provide much healing for people who are struggling, it is not for everyone. According to Psychology.org some have found higher levels of stress and anxiety due to attempting to create perfection which defeats the purpose of art therapy.
The National Library of Medicine did a study showing that participants found along with anxiety; low mood, distress, and low self esteem. “Overall, art therapy was viewed as an acceptable treatment by patients and service providers, with relatively few reports describing art therapy as unhelpful or unacceptable.”
For Hudson Valley residents there are multiple studios that offer art therapy services. The Art Effect in Poughkeepsie, Creative Arts Psychotherapy Art Therapists in Cold Springs, Bloom. Creative Art Therapy Services in Lagrangeville, and Art Therapy in Beacon along with several freelance art therapists.
“Que Te Vaya Bien Mi Nieto” a story by Melissa Clarke, an art therapist, it is one of many success stories highlighted from the AATA website. A little boy made a quilt inspired by the mass flow of immigrants to the town of Chelsea Massachusetts in 2014. She added layers to represent the trauma people have experienced.
When looking at the beautiful quilt, you would not think it represents gang violence people experience in Guatemala, Honduras, or El Salvador like an 11 year old boy experienced. This quilt was made for all the long and cold nights this boy had to endure while crossing the border.
No matter what form of art therapy you decide to try, it gives you the possibility to walk away with a new perspective and confidence in yourself. Art is something that can turn ugly emotions into something beautiful. It’s the stories and memories made through art therapy that can change a person’s life.
