What is Art Therapy - Yvonne Gordon

What is art therapy?
According to the American Art Therapy Association:
Art Therapy is The use of art materials in a therapeutic setting and enables a client to express through art what they can’t say in words. It’s not necessary to be an artist to realize the benefits of art therapy. For children the act of creating artwork comes very naturally. For adults, this process can often cause stress as many individuals feel they are not artists. Art therapy is not about creating a pretty picture, rather it’s about letting intuitive expression come through the unconscious.

many people have to contend with the loss of physical abilities, loss of memory and brain functioning, impairments of emotional control, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and isolation. Its been found that with psychotherapeutic intervention such as art therapy many individuals are able to participate, as art therapy is in a unique position of being able to offer verbal and non-verbal, direct, gentle and less threatening interventions talking is not necessary.

Art therapy can facilitate improvements in motor skills and memory. It can improve interpersonal skills, and improve expression of feelings by easing anxiety, depression and stress.