What is Art Therapy? The magic power of the image to heal and communicate is one of the ancient roots of the discipline of Art Therapy. 
Dreams, thoughts and communication begin with images. As language develops, images are translated to words. Images mirror developmental and cognitive development. A child has a natural creative tendency to learn through non-verbal and sensory play, music, drawing and painting. By using images and symbols, the client is often able to tap into deeper and often hidden material that has been disquised through behavioral or verbal defenses. Often, the simple process of drawing and playing not only reveals material, but helps organize, process and heal trauma as well. | Who are Art Therapists? Art Therapists (ATs) are professionals with master's level training in Art and Expressive therapies. Most are Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Social Workers, Psychologists or Psychiatrists with graduate degrees. Many of these professionals are also artists, peots or writers or have other personal experience with the healing power of art. Art Therapists have studied and experienced the creative processes which allow full expression of our potential, healing and growth. 
Many feel suppression of natural creative intelligence can lead to anxiety, depression or other mental and physical difficulties. | Why Use Art Therapy? Art Therapy allows children to com-municate intense feelings in ways that are natural to them. Art Therapy promotes children's capacity to heal from trauma at progressively more mature levels of understanding. 
"Two crocodiles trying to eat the man in the water who was trying to get to the island." Children are helped to develop their own means of creative expression through idiosyncratic symbols, stories, and repetitive themes that both express and contain their pain. Art Therapy can be used to assess levels of emotional and cognitive functioning, object relations, developmental stages and tasks, strengths, and defense mechanisms. Art Therapy can be an effective, sensitive and creative tool in assessing and treating adults and family systems. For more information, visit: |