Art Therapy and Creative Healing.
There are many approaches within the scope of art therapy. This particular overview and introduction comes from a more formal art and psychotherapy lens. Additional ideas and concepts will also be presented in future blog posts expanding upon the flexibility, capacity and far reaching scope of this accessible therapeutic modality, especially when we expand our view of ‘what art is and what art can be’.
Art therapy enables individuals to express their feelings both verbally and/or nonverbally through the use of the creative process. Emphasis is not on producing “good art” but rather on exploring new and meaningful ways of self-expression.
“Art therapy is based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life-enhancing.”
…This is not a New Idea
Although art therapy is a relatively new field, the idea of creating art as a form of therapy and exploration of the self is not a new one. “Art making is one of the most ancient forms of healing” (Malchiodi, 2007, p.ix) and art therapy is now considered a “viable treatment method and modality for self-understanding, emotional change, and personal growth” (p.2).
“Art is the tool for communication, self-examination and healing. Many Art Therapists combine art activities with verbal exploration of the art product to facilitate understanding of the client’s issues and concerns. The emphasis on art or discussion may vary, depending on the therapist’s approach or the client’s needs.”
‘Overwhelmed’
…Art and the Psychotherapy Connection
Dalley (1996) described the characteristics of art therapy and the way art can be instrumental in the psychotherapy process. The created picture, like a photograph becomes a “permanent record of the state of mind of the subject” and depicts through visual means important people, current relationships and how life situations are construed. Over time changes associated to attitudes and relationships are often graphically revealed “through a sequence of pictures”. The pictures ultimately reflect the relationship between the client and the person (or therapist) they were created for (Dalley, p.37).
‘Exciting and Challenging’
…Connection through Partnership
The therapeutic alliance represents the working relationship or partnership in therapy. Malchiodi (2007) has described the necessity of a supportive relationship “to guide the art making experience and to help the individual find meaning through it along the way” (p.6). In all therapeutic modalities, “the presence of a facilitator or witness is central to healing, reparation and recovery” (p.17).
‘Storm’
…The Therapeutic Frame
A therapeutic art frame is utilized at each developmental stage to aid in the transformation from a challenging space to a supportive therapeutic space where new relationships can develop, and the levels of awareness heightened. The artwork reflects the current state of the relationship between client and therapist, as well as changes that occur over time within the process, and allows expression of these feelings and issues to surface and be explored.
‘Wandering Thoughts’
…Connection through Active Participation
Another important element in art therapy is an individual’s active involvement in the process of making art, and attaching personal meaning to the art product created through story telling, description, or discovered meaning. Malchiodi (2007) conceived that other forms of therapy did not have the same level of dependency on the active participation of the client (p.6). The art therapy process “can permit in fantasy at least, the recreation of something that is lost or past”, and the safe expression of frightening situations, forbidden acts, rational and irrational thought processes, allude to something impending, or reveal hopes and/or desires (Dalley, 1996, pp.38-39).
‘Critical’
…Supportive Connections and the Art Therapist’s Role
Within the therapeutic frame the art therapist facilitates the creative process, provides emotional support, and witnesses the creative process and individual at work. Although silent observation can be an important part of this process “the therapist as participant-observer is far from being passive” (Betensky, 1987, p.157). During the process the art therapist observes the individual’s mood and affect, how this translates into the artwork, or the relationship connection with the therapist, and choices and considerations around the art materials and their usage. The therapist encourages creative exploration and may gently guide the client within this process of experimentation and self-discovery.
— April Penny, Art Therapy with Elders: Developing Meaningful Relationship Connections, 2007
“Art Therapists work with a variety of populations. Art therapy is effective for people of any age and an art therapist works with individuals, couples, families and groups in settings such as counselling agencies, schools, treatment centres, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, correctional institutes and elder care locations.”
Note:
• Art examples used in this informational blog post are my own explorative and expressive drawings, created in sessions during my art therapy training.
References:
• About art therapy: (retrieved 2004) .American Art Therapy Association. https://www.arttherapy.org
• Betensky, M.G. (1987). Phenomenology of therapeutic art expression and art therapy. In J.A. Rubin (Ed.), Approaches to art therapy: Theory and technique (pp. 149- 166). Brunner/Mazel.
• Dalley,T. (Ed.). (1996). Art as therapy: An introduction to the use of art as a therapeutic technique. Routledge.
• Malchiodi, C.A. (2007). The art therapy sourcebook. McGraw-Hill.
• Penny, A. (2007). Art therapy with elders: Developing meaningful relationship connections [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Toronto Art Therapy Institute.
• What is art therapy: (n.d.) Canadian Art Therapy Association. https//canadianarttherapy.org.
• What is art therapy: (n.d.). Ontario Art Therapy Association. https//oata.ca.