Art Therapy

Art is the knowledge, approach and skill, thus it is the medium that connects the knowledge to the experience and makes the person wise. Art therapy aims to assist the patient to resolve internal conflicts and gain greater self- awareness through the development and exploration of the relationship between the individual and therapist, and the issues which arise in therapy. Children with trouble expressing their thoughts through verbal communication use art to display their feelings and emotions. When a child is hesitant to open up and verbalize things, their mind starts to gain trust when the therapist introduces art-making. Art therapy activities are meditative, quiet, and calming, which helps soothe symptoms of stress, nervousness, and irritability. A calm mind is better able to process difficult emotions and experiences.

Art therapy is enabled by the encouragement of self expression through art and reflection on the image produced, in a professional, safe and facilitating environment that is not dependent on language, but does in general utilise it, all of which is directed towards effecting positive, personal and psychological growth within the client.
Art therapy is also often included as part of the services provided to particular client groups such as children, adolescents, families, older adults and individuals with learning difficulties. Within these broad areas art therapists may work with individuals on a one-to-one basis or with groups. Art therapists are also to be found practicing in a number of specialist fields including work with offenders, clients who have autism, eating disorders, addictions or who have experienced physical or sexual abuse, psychosis and physical illnesses. The process of doing art can sometimes help people become more aware of feelings previously hidden from them, or of which they were only partly aware. It can help people become clearer about confused feelings.