By Guest Author Trishna Paitnik
History and development
Art has always been used as a means of communication, self-expression, group interaction, diagnosis, and conflict resolution throughout history. For thousands of years, various cultures and religions around the world have incorporated the use of carved idols, charms, as well as sacred paintings and symbols during the healing process.
The term “art therapy” was coined in 1942 by British Artist Adrian Hill, who discovered the healthy and lovely benefits of painting and drawing while he recovered from tuberculosis. In the 1940s, several writers in the field of mental health began to describe their work with people in treatment as “art therapy.”
As there were no formal art therapy courses or training programs available at that time, these care providers were often educated in other disciplines and supervised by psychiatrists, psychologists, or other mental health care professionals.
The establishment of art therapy as a unique and publicly accepted therapeutic approach only took place recently, in the mid-20th century. The emergence of art therapy as a profession arose independently and simultaneously in the United States and Europe.
What is art therapy?
Art therapy involves the use of creative techniques such as drawing, painting, collage, colouring, or sculpting to help people express themselves artistically, and to examine the psychological and emotional undertones signified in their art. With the guidance of a credentialed art therapist, clients can "decode" various non-verbal messages, symbols, and metaphors often found in these art forms. All of those things can lead to a better understanding of their feelings and behavior, so that they can move on to understand and then resolve their deeper issues.
Health issues treated by art therapy
Art therapy benefits people of all ages. Research indicates that art therapy improves communication and concentration and helps reduce feelings of isolation. Art therapy has also been shown to lead to increased self-esteem, confidence, and self-awareness.
Positive results and benefits in art therapy may often be achieved by those facing issues such as:
Anxiety
Depression
Substance dependency
Stress
Posttraumatic stress
Attention deficit hyperactivity
Aging and geriatric issues
Cancer
Compassion fatigue
Heart disease
Anorexia
Bulimia and other eating disorders
Cognitive impairments
Family or relationship issues
Art therapy allows people to express feelings on any subject through a creative flow of work rather than with speech. Additionally, it’s believed to be particularly helpful for those who feel out of touch with their emotions or even feelings. Certain individuals experiencing difficulty discussing or remembering painful experiences may also find art therapy thoroughly beneficial.
Moreover, recent research suggests art therapy may help individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and personality disorders see improvement of some of their symptoms, although trials are still being conducted.
When is art therapy used?
Art therapy is used with individuals of all ages: children, adolescents and adults. Art therapists work with individuals, couples, and even groups in a variety of settings such as private counselling, hospitals, wellness centres, correctional institutions, senior centres, and other forms of community organizations.
No artistic talent is necessary in order for art therapy to succeed, because the therapeutic process is not about the artistic value of the work, but rather about finding associations between the creative choices made and a client's inner mind and thus life. The artwork can be used as a springboard for reawakening certain memories and then telling stories that may reveal various messages and beliefs from the unconscious mind. In many cases, art therapy can be used in conjunction with other psychotherapy techniques such as group therapy or even cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Some additional situations in which art therapy can be utilized include:
children with learning disabilities
adults experiencing severe stress
children suffering from behavioral or social problems at school or at home
people experiencing mental health problems
individuals suffering from a brain injury
children or adults who have experienced a traumatic event
Furthermore, one review of the effectiveness of art therapy found that the modality helped cancer patients undergoing medical treatment improve their quality of life and alleviated a variety of psychological symptoms too.
What to expect from art therapy
As with any form of therapy, your first session will consist of you talking to the therapist about why you want to find help and learning what the therapist has to offer. Together, you will come up with a treatment plan that involves creating some form of artwork. Once you begin creating, the therapist may, at times, simply observe your process as you work, without any form of interference or judgment.
When you have finished a piece of artwork—and sometimes while you are still working on it—the therapist will ask you questions along the lines of how you feel about the artistic process, what was easy or difficult about creating your artwork, and what thoughts or memories you may have had while you were working on it. Generally, the therapist will ask about your experience and feelings before providing any observations.
People often wonder how an art therapy session differs from a regular art class.
While an art class is focused on teaching technique or creating a specific finished product, art therapy is more about letting the clients focus on their inner experience. in creating art, people are able to focus on their own perceptions, imagination, and feelings. Clients are encouraged to create art that expresses their inner world more than making something that is an expression of the outer world.
Art therapy techniques and exercises
Certified art therapists will typically have a comprehensive understanding of the powerful effect that the creative process can have on those undertaking art therapy. Art therapists often use psychological, spiritual, and artistic theories in conjunction with clinical techniques to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome. The approach has proven to be beneficial even for non-verbal individuals and professional artists. Common techniques used in art therapy include:
Painting
Finger painting
Doodling
Scribbling
Sculpting
Drawing
Using moulding clay
Carving
Making pottery
Making cards
Using textiles
Making collages
Where do art Therapists Work?
Art therapists practice in a variety of traditional settings including hospitals, rehabilitation care units, assisted living centers, psychiatric facilities, senior communities and schools. They also work in some less familiar settings like wellness centers, forensic institutions, clinical research facilities, detention centers, and crisis centers.
Private practice is also very common for professionals who specialize in art therapy.
The benefits of art therapy are numerous, and here are nine ways it can help on the path to holistic wellness, even for those without a specific condition to address:
Improve and work towards self-management
Decrease symptoms of depression
Enhance communication skills
Address various past traumas
Reduce levels of stress
Boost problem-solving skills
Build self-esteem
Mitigate certain painful physical symptoms
Provide a positive outlet
Photos courtesy of Canva
About the author:
Trishna Patnaik, a BSc (in Life Sciences) and MBA (in Marketing) by qualification but an artist by choice. A self-taught artist based in Mumbai, Trishna has been practising art for over 14 years. After she had a professional stint in various reputed corporates, she realised that she wanted to do something more meaningful. She found her true calling in her passion that is painting.
Trishna is now a full-time professional painter pursuing her passion to create and explore to the fullest. She says, "It’s a road less traveled but a journey that I look forward to everyday." Trishna also conducts painting workshops across Mumbai and other metropolitan cities of India.
Trishna is an art therapist and healer. She works with clients on a one-on-one basis in Mumbai.
Trishna fancies the art of creative writing and is dappling her hands in that too, to soak in the experience and have an engagement with readers, wanderers and thinkers.
