“We’re really good at building a world with words. We’ve told our stories so many times, and we’re so well versed in using language that it limits us.”
- Saba Harouni Lurie LMFT, ATR-BC
What is Art Therapy?
1. Art therapy is a therapeutic method that combines creative expression with talk therapy. An art therapist is a master-level professional clinician whom adheres to the highest ethical standards while guiding people through the healing process.
2. Being an artist is not necessary. The goal IS NOT creating aesthetically pleasing artwork. It IS about expressing yourself and your story with imagery, movement, or another creative medium such as dance, acting, songwriting, etc.,
3. Is Art Therapy beneficial to everyone? Yes.
What are the therapeutic benefits of Art Therapy?
1. Trauma is stored in the body and is not always easy to access verbally. We experience it in images. Art can let us express that experience. Utilizing artmaking can lead the client to share, process, and/or even confront their experiences in a way that feels safe.
2. Specific parts of the brain involved in major functions of the body are engaged by this type of therapy. It has also been shown to improve self-esteem, build confidence, and promote sustaining change in maladaptive thinking patterns, all to improve one’s well-being.
3. Art Therapy can continue to aid in not only the recovery of people with addictions disorders but also provide them with healthy relapse prevention skills that can be utilized throughout their life and help the person face the world with more confidence.
4. Creative expression in therapy can aid in the slowing of trauma and/or anxiety-related responses such as avoidant behaviors, intrusive thoughts, panic, dysregulated bodily sensations, and impulsive behaviors.
5. Art therapy can help people visualize the situation from another angle and see that varied perspectives can aid in processing the experience.
6. People of all ages often hold their feelings in, which makes it hard to sort everything out. Unprocessed emotions still hurt us, and finding a way to get them out through expression can help us cope, find meaning, and move forward.
7. Art therapy aids in the slowing of cognitive decline of older adults. Parts of the brain that deal with memory are affected by art therapy in positive ways.
8. Children and teenage brains are still developing, meaning the benefits of stress relief, or recovering from trauma can be more probable with Art Therapy as it engages the parts of the brain that store repressed trauma memories. Using creative expression to convey emotion is beneficial because they can express themselves in ways they may not be developmentally mature enough to express in words.
1. Art therapy is a therapeutic method that combines creative expression with talk therapy. An art therapist is a master-level professional clinician whom adheres to the highest ethical standards while guiding people through the healing process.
2. Being an artist is not necessary. The goal IS NOT creating aesthetically pleasing artwork. It IS about expressing yourself and your story with imagery, movement, or another creative medium such as dance, acting, songwriting, etc.,
3. Is Art Therapy beneficial to everyone? Yes.
What are the therapeutic benefits of Art Therapy?
1. Trauma is stored in the body and is not always easy to access verbally. We experience it in images. Art can let us express that experience. Utilizing artmaking can lead the client to share, process, and/or even confront their experiences in a way that feels safe.
2. Specific parts of the brain involved in major functions of the body are engaged by this type of therapy. It has also been shown to improve self-esteem, build confidence, and promote sustaining change in maladaptive thinking patterns, all to improve one’s well-being.
3. Art Therapy can continue to aid in not only the recovery of people with addictions disorders but also provide them with healthy relapse prevention skills that can be utilized throughout their life and help the person face the world with more confidence.
4. Creative expression in therapy can aid in the slowing of trauma and/or anxiety-related responses such as avoidant behaviors, intrusive thoughts, panic, dysregulated bodily sensations, and impulsive behaviors.
5. Art therapy can help people visualize the situation from another angle and see that varied perspectives can aid in processing the experience.
6. People of all ages often hold their feelings in, which makes it hard to sort everything out. Unprocessed emotions still hurt us, and finding a way to get them out through expression can help us cope, find meaning, and move forward.
7. Art therapy aids in the slowing of cognitive decline of older adults. Parts of the brain that deal with memory are affected by art therapy in positive ways.
8. Children and teenage brains are still developing, meaning the benefits of stress relief, or recovering from trauma can be more probable with Art Therapy as it engages the parts of the brain that store repressed trauma memories. Using creative expression to convey emotion is beneficial because they can express themselves in ways they may not be developmentally mature enough to express in words.