Belleville Counseling Associates
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Counseling for Adults, Children, Families, and Groups
Solutions to provide Hope and Healing
Art Therapy
What is Art Therapy?
Definition of the Profession:
Art Therapy counseling is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of
making art to improve a person's physical, mental and emotional well-being.
The creative process involved in expressing one's self artistically can help people to resolve
issues as well as develop and manage their behaviors and feelings, reduce stress and
improve self-esteem and awareness.
Who can use Art Therapy?
Anyone can use art therapy. Art Therapy can effectively treat people of all ages. Children,
teens or adults with personal problems can benefit from the use of Art Therapy. Art Therapy
is used in individual, family, group and open studio sessions. Whether a person has
emotional health concerns or simply seeking personal growth, creative therapies can
provide healing and insight.
Why choose Art Therapy over traditional talk therapy?
Words have become our primary method of communication, but sometimes words cannot
express the complexity of human emotions. In art therapy, the art produced or image then
becomes the spontaneous and honest voice that communicates our human emotions. The
process of making art provides us with a connection to our inner world that is raw and
uncensored, unlike words that can be selectively scrutinized and suppressed. Art therapy is
an effective approach to treatment that provides the opportunity to reach beyond censored
words and unconscious feelings to a deeper understanding of self.
What if I'm not an artist? I can't even draw a stick figure?
If you can make a mark on a piece of paper, you already have the ability to do the art part of
art therapy. Creativity is a natural aspect of being a human being, and we are all creative in
unique ways. Just as decorating your home, writing in a journal, sewing, cooking, or
organizing your closet is a way to express creativity and individuality, creating art is simply
another form of expression. In art therapy, expressing emotion through art making is more
important than the finished product, which is different from making art for the purpose of
exhibiting or selling whereby the skillful art product is of primary importance. In short, art
therapy is not so much about "how" you create, i.e, skill; it's more about "what" you create,
i.e, authentic expression of internal self.
More About Art Therapy...
Definition from AATA (American Art Therapy Association):
Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people
who experience illness, trauma or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal
development. Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes,
people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress and
traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of
making art.
Art therapists are professional trained in both art and therapy. They are knowledgeable
about human development, psychological theories, clinical practice, spiritual, multicultural
and artistic traditions and the healing potential of art. Art therapists work with people of all
ages: individuals, couples, families, groups and communities.
Educational, professional and ethical standards for art therapists are regulated by The
American Art Therapy Association, Inc. The Art Therapy Credentials Board Inc., an
independent organization, grants postgraduate supervised experience. The Registered Art
Therapist who successfully completes the written examination administered by the Art
Therapy Credentials Board is qualified as Board Certified (ATR-BC), a credential requiring
maintenance through Continuing Education credits. (copyright AATA, Inc.)
Definition of the Profession:
Art Therapy counseling is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of
making art to improve a person's physical, mental and emotional well-being.
The creative process involved in expressing one's self artistically can help people to resolve
issues as well as develop and manage their behaviors and feelings, reduce stress and
improve self-esteem and awareness.
Who can use Art Therapy?
Anyone can use art therapy. Art Therapy can effectively treat people of all ages. Children,
teens or adults with personal problems can benefit from the use of Art Therapy. Art Therapy
is used in individual, family, group and open studio sessions. Whether a person has
emotional health concerns or simply seeking personal growth, creative therapies can
provide healing and insight.
Why choose Art Therapy over traditional talk therapy?
Words have become our primary method of communication, but sometimes words cannot
express the complexity of human emotions. In art therapy, the art produced or image then
becomes the spontaneous and honest voice that communicates our human emotions. The
process of making art provides us with a connection to our inner world that is raw and
uncensored, unlike words that can be selectively scrutinized and suppressed. Art therapy is
an effective approach to treatment that provides the opportunity to reach beyond censored
words and unconscious feelings to a deeper understanding of self.
What if I'm not an artist? I can't even draw a stick figure?
If you can make a mark on a piece of paper, you already have the ability to do the art part of
art therapy. Creativity is a natural aspect of being a human being, and we are all creative in
unique ways. Just as decorating your home, writing in a journal, sewing, cooking, or
organizing your closet is a way to express creativity and individuality, creating art is simply
another form of expression. In art therapy, expressing emotion through art making is more
important than the finished product, which is different from making art for the purpose of
exhibiting or selling whereby the skillful art product is of primary importance. In short, art
therapy is not so much about "how" you create, i.e, skill; it's more about "what" you create,
i.e, authentic expression of internal self.
More About Art Therapy...
Definition from AATA (American Art Therapy Association):
Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people
who experience illness, trauma or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal
development. Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes,
people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress and
traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of
making art.
Art therapists are professional trained in both art and therapy. They are knowledgeable
about human development, psychological theories, clinical practice, spiritual, multicultural
and artistic traditions and the healing potential of art. Art therapists work with people of all
ages: individuals, couples, families, groups and communities.
Educational, professional and ethical standards for art therapists are regulated by The
American Art Therapy Association, Inc. The Art Therapy Credentials Board Inc., an
independent organization, grants postgraduate supervised experience. The Registered Art
Therapist who successfully completes the written examination administered by the Art
Therapy Credentials Board is qualified as Board Certified (ATR-BC), a credential requiring
maintenance through Continuing Education credits. (copyright AATA, Inc.)