What is “Art Therapy”?

A friendly stranger on the chairlift recently said to me, “So, you’re an art therapist. Does that mean if I’m having a bad art day, you help make it better?”

I get questions like this all the time. And that’s fair! It’s not a super well known therapeutic modality. It’s growing and growing and growing and the research on Art Therapy’s positive outcomes are growing as well.

So, let’s dive in a little bit.

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses creative processes - like drawing, painting, sculpting, or collage - to help people explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. It's based on the idea that the act of making art can be healing and transformative, even if you're not an artist.

A trained art therapist guides individuals or groups through creative activities to:

• Express feelings that might be hard to put into words

• Explore personal challenges or trauma

• Develop coping skills and emotional resilience

• Improve self-awareness and self-esteem

• Support mental health and well-being

Art therapy is used with children, teens, and adults in many settings, including hospitals, schools, private practices, and community organizations. It's often helpful for people dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, chronic illness, or developmental and behavioral challenges.