What is Art Therapy?  

Art therapy is a mental health profession using art materials, the creative process, and the created artwork within the therapy relationship. Making artwork can help you explore feelings and emotions, improve self-awareness, manage behavior or addictions, enhance social skills, brainstorm and set goals, or reduce anxiety.

A primary objective in art therapy is to improve or restore your functioning and sense of personal well being. Your art therapist will consider your goal(s) and a combination of psychological theory, art therapy counseling intervention and art materials to help guide you in your creative process.

Art Therapy is...

• Focused on personal expression rather than artistic production.
• Something anyone can do who is open to the creative process.
• An alternate way to work on recovery and treatment issues.

Art Therapy is not...

• Focused on making a specific project.
• An art class from an art teacher.
• An arts and crafts activity.
• Only for people with artistic skills.
• Diagnosing someone by interpreting their drawings.

References
American Art Therapy Association (2013). What is Art Therapy? Retrieved January 12, 2016, from http://www.arttherapy.org/upload/whatisarttherapy.pdf
Art Therapy Credentials Board (2016). What is Art Therapy? Retrieved January 12, 2016, from http://www.atcb.org/Public/WhatIsArtTherapy