Some artists paint on canvasses while others find satisfaction in something deeper: the art of inner healing. Artists who are knowledgeable about human development, psychological theories, clinical practice, including spiritual, multicultural and artistic traditions have discovered the healing potentials of art. Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art by people who experience a variety of challenges in life, such as stress and anxiety, emotional problems, depression, illnesses, and other health conditions. It is also for people who seek personal development and fulfillment.
Art creations and its processes increase self-awareness and the ability to cope with struggles in living which include coping with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences. Art therapy helps to enhance cognitive abilities and provides life-affirming pleasures. In art therapy, creation may start with an urge to make a doodle or sketch, or with a certain feeling, dreams, memories or just a plain idea. The next step is to give it a physical form with the use of a clay or paint or any tool one would like to use for his creation. This is a creative play that provides a means to express something that has no word, or is not yet understood.
There are a number of reasons why people come to art therapy. Most people who are grieving a loss of a loved one, undergoing depression, trauma, sexual abuse, and drug or substance addiction find relief and courage through creative expression. Others who are mending broken relationships, exploring their dreams, or seeking for renewal and meaning in their lives have found the depth of art therapy to be very helpful and effective.
Art therapy can provide a deep sense of safety as it becomes to be a trusted place to consider these private images or expressions. Picture, sculptures and other forms of art offer a kind of nourishment, healing insights, and a fresh respect for one's creativity. There are people who prefer to work in silence. But there are also times when a unique dialogue between a client and a therapist takes place. The finished art work remains as a source of further reflection after the session. For art therapy, creativity, its process and the experience is given more emphasis than coming up with a beautiful product. A drawing of an ugly picture can be an important expression. Just the act of picking up a crayon and making a mark can be a powerful expression to some people who have not done any art since grade school. Engaging in artworks can evoke feelings and relive memories of those days
Art therapists with proper training have also become professionals in the field of aesthetics and therapy. They are experts about the healing potential of art. They use art in treatment, assessment and research. They provide consultations to allied health professionals and work with people of all ages, individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities. Services are provided individually or as part of clinical teams in different locations and settings that include mental health, rehabilitation, medical and forensic institutions; community outreach programs; wellness centers; schools; nursing homes; corporate structures; open studios and independent practices. To experience and to regain creativity can be empowering, as well as pleasurable. Connecting creativity with therapy greatly helps in exploring the struggles and challenges of daily normal life.
