Art Therapy - Facts vs Myths
By Deepti Guruprasad, MPhil, ATR-P
Art Therapist at Grove Emotional Health Collaborative
Art Therapy as a profession has been around for a while, but the term has gained popularity in recent years with adult coloring books popping up in every store checkout aisle and an exclusive feature on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2018. But what is Art Therapy, really? Below are some of the most common reactions to that question.
“Art therapy? What is that? Oh I have those coloring books lying around!”
“Using an art form as a way of coping? But arts and crafts aren’t my thing!”
“Are you going to tell me what I’m feeling looking at my art?”
“Will you recommend drawings for me to make so that I feel better?”
“I can’t draw…no way! And isn’t that just for kids anyway?”
If any of these sound familiar, you’re not alone. Below are some myths and facts about Art Therapy, which will hopefully offer some clarity about the Art Therapy profession and its applications in mental health.
Myth: Art Therapy is simply arts and crafts.
Fact: Art Therapy or Art Psychotherapy (as it is known in the United Kingdom) is an established mental health profession that has been around since the 1940s. It works just like traditional “talk” therapy in that Art Therapists work with clients in a safe, confidential space to help them work through issues and move towards healing and wellness. In addition to expressing themselves verbally, clients are provided an array of visual art materials like paints, markers, pastels, clay, yarn and so on to express themselves visually. Art Therapy offers clients the opportunity to engage in kinesthetic, sensory, affective and symbolic experiences that are different from verbal communication alone.
Myth: Art Therapy is like an art class.
Fact: In contrast to an art class where the goal is to learn a skill, an Art Therapy session does not involve learning art as a skill or capturing the formal elements of design and color. Whereas in an art class, the goal may be to represent something as accurately as possible (for instance, a still life painting), the source and content of the artwork in Art Therapy emerges from one’s internal experience. What you represent is authentic to you and hence, there is no right way or wrong way to do so.
Myth: But I still need to know some form of art to engage in Art Therapy.
Fact: You do not need to be proficient in art making or have a background in drawing or painting to engage in Art Therapy. In fact, being a novice or having no experience with art can work to your advantage, since experienced artists can sometimes get caught up with critiquing their image. The focus in Art Therapy is on the process of art making and not so much on the quality of product or the result that emerges. In other words, art making is used to further the understanding of the client’s experience and not to create a finished product for display. So, if you are able to choose, for instance, a piece of chalk pastel or color of paint and make a mark on paper - a dot, a scribble, a line, you are ready to participate in Art Therapy! Your Art Therapist is trained to offer just the right materials that are suitable for your goals and will guide you through the process. It is designed to help clients let go of judgement, and simply explore the art media.
Myth: Art Therapy is just like the coloring books.
Fact: While coloring and engaging in any art form can be therapeutic for some, Art Therapy is more than that. Art ‘Therapy’ signifies the presence of an established relationship between the therapist and client. The Art Therapy session is an actively curated experience by a professional who makes several nuanced choices of the setting, the art materials and the process. The therapist provides a holding the space for the client and their artwork, and facilitates their journey towards healing.
Coloring books vs. Art Therapy = Writing in a journal vs. Talking to a therapist. Coloring and journaling can be therapeutic by themselves. However, the process of working with a trained professional is a whole other experience!
Myth: Art Therapy means making art to feel good.
Fact: Art Therapy has a multitude of applications. However, at the most basic level it can be divided into two categories based on how art is used in the process of treatment. Most Art Therapists use a combination of the two categories in their work with clients.
Art as therapy – where the process of art making is healing in itself. Manipulating wet clay to create a form, splashing some paints on to paper, using your fingers to smudge some pastel colors around or weaving some yarn can be a grounding, mindful, relaxing experience. From a neuroscience perspective, the parts of our brain that are active during art making are different from those we use to engage in verbal processing. Therefore, the noisy mind chatter or the constant inner dialogue gets to quiet down which can be a refreshing and nourishing experience. Some people also experience the ‘flow’ state where one is so immersed in the current experience that time stands still around them.
Art in therapy – where art making becomes a vehicle for symbolic communication, a path to the unconscious mind. As the saying goes, an image can speak a thousand words. It also offers a visual language to represent experiences in our mind and body that may be difficult to express in words. This can be powerful for both the client and the therapist in their work together.
Myth: Art Therapy is only for children.
Fact: While children are inherently spontaneous with imagery, Art Therapy can be suitable across age groups. Anyone from young kids to the elderly can participate and benefit from Art Therapy. In fact, Art Therapy can be very powerful with adults since it can often be a less threatening way of conveying experiences that are difficult to express in words. Art Therapy sessions are offered as individual (one-on-one) sessions or through groups and workshops.
Myth: Art Therapists analyze art.
Fact: While Art Therapists facilitates art expression, they rarely analyze artwork since it is representation of a client’s experience or inner reality. Except in cases of formal assessments that may have a protocol for analysis, verbal processing and reflection of the artwork is a collaborative process, led by the client.
Myth: I will have to do art in every session.
Fact: Not every session requires art making. Some sessions can focus on meaning making and processing or just talking about a client’s concerns. Art Therapists are trained in psychotherapy skills and can facilitate the session based on a client’s goals and where they’re at in the treatment process.
Myth: Art therapy cannot help with every mental health issue.
Fact: Art Therapy can benefit those dealing with a range of psychological issues, trauma, grief, recovery from illness, stress or those looking to improve wellness and self-growth. It has a wide scope and has applications in multiple settings including hospitals and rehabilitation centers, private practice, schools and community organizations.
Myth: Any therapist who uses art in a session is an Art Therapist.
Fact: Art therapy is not a modality but a mental health profession. In the US, Art Therapists need to have a master’s degree in addition to other requirements like supervised training experience to be qualified. Art Therapists have the knowledge of developmental processes, mental health issues, assessments, treatment planning and the process of change in therapy. They also have experience in studio art to facilitate art making during sessions. Art Therapists are trained to tailor Art Therapy to suit a client’s unique goals, and make decisions regarding the choice of art media based on the setting in which therapy takes place, the duration of each session and the overall treatment plan.
Art Therapy as a mental health profession has many intrinsic advantages since it offers the opportunity to externalize stress, engage in catharsis, develop coping skills, promote relaxation, develop insight and experience positive emotions, while engaging in creative exploration. Click here to learn more about Art Therapy. If you think you may benefit from Art Therapy or would like to learn more about individual sessions or Art Therapy workshops and groups offered at Grove, contact Deepti Guruprasad.
Deepti Guruprasad, MPhil, ATR-P, is a warm and compassionate therapist who enjoys working with children, adolescents and adults of all ages, genders, races and ethnicities. She offers a non-judgmental, safe space to promote healing and growth for individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions and trauma. Deepti is currently accepting new clients. Request your appointment today.