Art Therapy
Art therapy is new and growing way to express hidden feelings. It is used to help people while using a variety
of materials. Art therapy works for anyone, young or old. It is also used for several reasons other than expression. It is also a
growing occupation, which is used to open up the hearts and minds of others. An art therapist provides a valuable service to
people who need it. There are several steps to become an art therapist.
The first step to becoming an art therapist is getting the right training and certification. Art therapy combines
the studies of art and psychology (Ford 4). Four to eight years may be required to obtain a degree within these areas.
Extensive training from a college or university is required to gain better knowledge of specific areas within art ("Artists" 2).
Seminars are also offered throughout the year to help teach specific techniques that may be used. The seminars consist of
trips to places, and group work, where people who are entering the field of art therapy learn how to use different types of
artistic expressions to reach the hearts of young and old. Also, therapists are required to meet certain standards by each state
based on their fields of study; this includes: psychotherapists/social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists ("Becoming A
Counselor" 2). As much knowledge as possible should be learned within these areas of study. While education is important
materials and techniques are equally so.
The materials and techniques that are used should be appropriate. Materials should be different for every age
group to keep from having severe accidents. The older the person, the more responsible they become in handling certain
materials; this helps therapists know what exactly a patient can be offered to do while attending art therapy sessions. Some
people are not as able as others which causes restrictions to certain types of therapy sessions that can be offered, and also to
the materials that the patient will use (Uhles 1). Art techniques vary for each individual, those who walk, talk, and hear. Some
individuals may not be able to do the same things as the others, so their techniques should be made to simpler tasks that the
patient can participate in. Art therapy is for everyone, despite the disabilities a person may have, art can be beneficial to
anyone and work in many ways.
Art therapy helps people in different ways. Art is functional, and to an older person it is very meaningful, and
they seem to enjoy that (Uhles 2). Therapists help people when they can't seem to talk about the things that are bothering
them. They help people open up about what they are feeling within themselves. But, for some people, a therapist is not
enough, sometimes it helps to bring in an art therapist to help a person reach their self-discovery. Art therapy helps people
realize the person that they are. It also helps a person realize that some of the things that have happened in their past should
not be blamed as their own faults; this comes to the result of self-pity. Since children love art, it has become a good way to
get a child to communicate what they are feeling. A child's emotion shows in the things they draw, paint, or sculpt (Murelle
1). People become relaxed and lose the stress that they may have. It frees their minds of what is around them, and they forget
what is bothering them. The way people feel shows within the work they do. Their feelings can be easily noticed by the things
that they use within the artwork, such as characters, and what the characters are doing and how they are acting. If someone
is deeply depressed, it will show in the work because of the colors the patient uses. Most people who are depressed will use
dark colors instead of bright colors. A fulfillment seems to overcome those who have participated in art therapy. They feel as
though they have taken control of their emotions.
Art therapy is not just used in specific therapy centers; it is used almost everywhere in the world today. Art
therapy can also be used independently (Jordan 1). Independent use of art therapy includes: poems, piercings, and tattoos.
As for group wise, juvenile detention centers offer art therapy to help youths open up about what brings them there. It helps
youths explain what they have done to get them in the situation that they are in, and they do this without having to speak a
word about certain devastation's that they have seen (Davis 1). Hospitals also have art therapy to help people cope with their
diagnosis. This is also a great way to help people feel better about what they are going through (Sadowsky 1). Nursing
homes have art therapy programs as well. By offering art therapy in nursing homes, people can get the chance to move
around a lot more than what they would just sitting up in a bed, as much movement as possible is always needed. Art therapy
is used for entertainment, experience, and even encouragement (Uhles 1).
Art therapists offer certain forms of encouragement to their patients. Encouragement is a good way to get
patients feeling better about themselves, and the things that they do. People attending art therapy sessions should be greatly
encouraged to visualize, even if it's remembering the worst memory. The patient should also create thoughts and emotions
that have been put away and hidden. Their imaginations should also be strongly encouraged. Without visualization, emotions
and a good imagination, people could not form art (Ford 2).
Although becoming an art therapist takes years of advanced training, it becomes worth it once receiving the
feeling of being able to help people in their lowest points in life. Art therapy can heal a heart, and people learn that there is
much more to worry about than what is holding them back from getting on with their life. It helps people realize that other
people are out there just like them, but with worse things happening to them, this helps them feel like they should get on with
their life. There are always alternative things for people to do in the field of art, so it is easy to disregard a disability that may
separate a person from those around them. Yet, it is very important to know what disabled people are within the group.
Everyone needs help sometimes, so by having the option of art therapy, people can relieve the pain and feelings that have
kept them down over time, and get the help that they need. Since art therapy is not at just one place, people can have the
option of where, and when to take it. Not only does a person have the opportunity to come intact with their true feelings, but
they also have a therapist to help guide them. They also have the chance to communicate with others that have similar, if not
worse, problems. Art therapy is not only expressionable, but also goes to a worthy cause of helping people.
Works Cited
"Artists." U.S.A. Today. 1-4. 26 Jan. 2003 <http://www.usatoday.com/money/jobcenter/profiles/artists.htm>.
"Becoming A Counselor." Counseling. 1-3. 26 Jan. 2003 <http://www.counseling.com/Ccom/becoming.html>.
Davis, Patricia. "Drawing Out the Pain." Washington Post. 20 May 1993: 1-3.
Ford, Martin, and Paula Ford. "Art Therapy." Gale Encylopedia of Alternative Medicine. 2001: 1-4. 14 Jan. 2003.
Jordan, Karin. "Family Art Therapy: The Joint Family Holiday Drawing." Family Journal. Jan.2001: 1-4. 5 Feb. 2003
Murelle, Julie. "Art For Art Sake, and Your Own." Suite101. 25 Sept. 2001: 1-2. 20 Jan. 2003.
Sadowsky, Dan. "Art Therapy Bright Spirits of Young and Old." Atlanta Business Chronicle. 18 July 1997: 1-3. 20 Jan.
2003. <http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/1997/07/21/focus14.html>.
Uhles, Steven. "Art Therapy." Augusta Chronicle. 22 March 2002: 1-3. 20 Jan. 2003
<http://www.augustachronicle.com/stories/032202/app_220-7045.000.shtml>.
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