What is Art Therapy?
ART AND HEALING
Socrates said, "it's impossible to heal the body without healing the soul." A true reflective statement of what Art Therapy is, a form of psychotherapy that combines the process of making art with theories in psychology.
Creating art during your sessions can be a form of self-expression, reflection, and healing. Your artwork can facilitate verbal communication that helps to achieve therapeutic goals set out between the therapist and client in one-to-one sessions, groups, or retreat settings.
Art therapy is about resurrections, revivals, and transformations. The process of creating art and healing are synonymously intertwined. We take something disturbing, a source of pain, grief, and anxiety, and we work towards transforming it into something else using the process of creating art combined with theories and principles of psychology.
WHY ART THERAPY WORKS
Some find it difficult to verbalize our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. For example, we are embarrassed, lack adequate language and cognitive skills; or have been exposed to trauma constricting our freedom to express ourselves verbally. Art Therapy is a relatively non-intrusive form of psychotherapy that can help individuals of all ages express complex thoughts and feelings. It is an approach that provides the opportunity for nonverbal expression and communication.
The therapeutic relationship is designed to provide a safe and supportive space in which one can safely surrender to the creative process and open up to expressing and exploring strong, sensitive, or destructive feelings.
Through your artwork, it begins a discussion about your process that can help both you and your therapist gain insight into your inner world and feelings. The method of creating your artwork is the starting point to your inner journey of healing.
WHO IS ART THERAPY FOR
Similar to other forms of psychotherapy, art therapy is for people of all ages, children, adolescents, and adults who may be struggling with personal issues. These issues include but are not limited to; low self-esteem, anger, depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, chronic illness, cognitive impairment, developmental disabilities/ delays, and abuse.
Within the Human Frame, we focus on beginning the journey to inner self-reflection and healing, an invitation to a deeper life within yourself, family, and community.
Although art therapy is not a guarantee of a “cure-all solution,” it is a step toward the healing process. We will work together on giving you the tools and support needed to move forward with your life.