Recording Artist: Bradford Smith
Welcome. I'm glad you are here.
The Center
The Blue.Sky Center was born in August of 2009 from the dream of providing a place that
would allow others to use their own creative expression to find hope and healing through art.
The name of the space came from a special person I call "the stone healer," who often, with
flashlight in hand, points me in the best direction to go when I end up bumping around in the
dark. You will find that the space is full of art materials where the invitation to create is
naturally implicit. You will also find that there is a lot of room to either spread out on the
couch, do somersaults on the floor if you need to, lounge on floor pillows, spin in task chairs,
create, talk or simply take time for yourself.
Art Therapy
Art Therapy offers a medium which bridges physical and psychological experience, and
enables the formation of a narrative when verbal communication is difficult to express. Art
therapy assists in the working through of losses, the channeling of emotional and physical
energies in a constructive and potentially coherent way, and the mastery over anxieties and
fears.
According to the American Art Therapy Association, as an established mental health
profession, art therapy uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of individuals of all ages. Art Therapists
believe that the creative process involved in art making is innately healing and life
enhancing.
The Therapy in Art Therapy
Art Therapy is shown in evidence-based studies to help with everything from memory
enhancement and movement rehabilitation to building self-esteem and improving mood. For
some, art making can feel more like a meditative experience bringing forth feelings of calm
and peace. Brain wave scans conducted on individuals making art show that alpha and theta
brain wave patterning emerge, the same brain waves that appear during restful meditation
and prayer. A decrease in heart respiration rate occurs allowing for further stress reduction.
Research has shown that serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and beta-endorphins are
released into the bloodstream during art making mimicking the pain relieving actions of
morphine and allowing for pleasurable feelings to emerge.
The Art in Art Therapy
Throughout the ages, art has been a means of communication and healing for humankind.
While most people come into therapy not considering themselves "artists", this is not a factor
or concern for participation. In fact, the end product or goal is not the focus, but instead the
process. Art expression is an innate part of all of us and has the ability to help us access
deeper parts of our inner selves more readily than just verbal language alone. Art Therapy
recognizes that all art created within an art therapy session is respected and honored as an
extension of each person.
A Word of Caution...
There are many therapists who advertise that they offer art therapy to their clients when
they have not received a degree in art therapy. It's important that the potential client get
more information about the possible therapist's training and qualifications.
Art Therapists' are required to work in the field as Masters-level therapists (or PhD). Their
education comes from an accredited institution, that entails 2 to 3 years of training and
includes a practicum of 700 hrs. Art Therapists with this training must then get 1500
post-graduate direct-client hours to qualify for the credential of Registered Art Therapist
(ATR) and can further take an exam for the Board Certified (ATR-BC) credential. (See ATCB
website for credentialing criteria)
Therapists who have not gone through this rigorous training process and direct experience
maybe at risk of harming their clients. This is true with any modality that is specialized and
takes years of education and skill-building to master. Art Therapy would not have as many
degreed levels (BA, MA & PhD levels) within itself if anybody could easily facilitate such a
process having just taken a weekend workshop.
The Center
The Blue.Sky Center was born in August of 2009 from the dream of providing a place that
would allow others to use their own creative expression to find hope and healing through art.
The name of the space came from a special person I call "the stone healer," who often, with
flashlight in hand, points me in the best direction to go when I end up bumping around in the
dark. You will find that the space is full of art materials where the invitation to create is
naturally implicit. You will also find that there is a lot of room to either spread out on the
couch, do somersaults on the floor if you need to, lounge on floor pillows, spin in task chairs,
create, talk or simply take time for yourself.
Art Therapy
Art Therapy offers a medium which bridges physical and psychological experience, and
enables the formation of a narrative when verbal communication is difficult to express. Art
therapy assists in the working through of losses, the channeling of emotional and physical
energies in a constructive and potentially coherent way, and the mastery over anxieties and
fears.
According to the American Art Therapy Association, as an established mental health
profession, art therapy uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of individuals of all ages. Art Therapists
believe that the creative process involved in art making is innately healing and life
enhancing.
The Therapy in Art Therapy
Art Therapy is shown in evidence-based studies to help with everything from memory
enhancement and movement rehabilitation to building self-esteem and improving mood. For
some, art making can feel more like a meditative experience bringing forth feelings of calm
and peace. Brain wave scans conducted on individuals making art show that alpha and theta
brain wave patterning emerge, the same brain waves that appear during restful meditation
and prayer. A decrease in heart respiration rate occurs allowing for further stress reduction.
Research has shown that serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and beta-endorphins are
released into the bloodstream during art making mimicking the pain relieving actions of
morphine and allowing for pleasurable feelings to emerge.
The Art in Art Therapy
Throughout the ages, art has been a means of communication and healing for humankind.
While most people come into therapy not considering themselves "artists", this is not a factor
or concern for participation. In fact, the end product or goal is not the focus, but instead the
process. Art expression is an innate part of all of us and has the ability to help us access
deeper parts of our inner selves more readily than just verbal language alone. Art Therapy
recognizes that all art created within an art therapy session is respected and honored as an
extension of each person.
A Word of Caution...
There are many therapists who advertise that they offer art therapy to their clients when
they have not received a degree in art therapy. It's important that the potential client get
more information about the possible therapist's training and qualifications.
Art Therapists' are required to work in the field as Masters-level therapists (or PhD). Their
education comes from an accredited institution, that entails 2 to 3 years of training and
includes a practicum of 700 hrs. Art Therapists with this training must then get 1500
post-graduate direct-client hours to qualify for the credential of Registered Art Therapist
(ATR) and can further take an exam for the Board Certified (ATR-BC) credential. (See ATCB
website for credentialing criteria)
Therapists who have not gone through this rigorous training process and direct experience
maybe at risk of harming their clients. This is true with any modality that is specialized and
takes years of education and skill-building to master. Art Therapy would not have as many
degreed levels (BA, MA & PhD levels) within itself if anybody could easily facilitate such a
process having just taken a weekend workshop.
