According to the American Art Therapy Association, “art therapy is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight.”
What do Art Therapists do and where do they do it?
According to the American Medical Association's Health Professions Career and Education Directory (2005-2006); "Art therapists use drawings and other art/media forms to assess, treat, and rehabilitate patients with mental, emotional, physical, and/or developmental disorders. Art therapists use and facilitate the art process, providing materials, instruction, and structuring of tasks tailored either to individuals or groups. Using their skills of assessment and interpretation, they understand and plan the appropriateness of materials applicable to the client's therapeutic needs.”
Art therapy integrates the fields of human development, visual art, counseling and psychotherapy. Art therapists work with all age groups to assess and treat: anxiety, depression, other mental illnesses, physical, cognitive and neurological problems, psychosocial difficulties related to medical illness, substance abuse and other addictions, family and relationship issues, abuse and domestic violence, social/emotional difficulties related to an illness or disability, and trauma and loss issues.
Art therapists work in a wide range of settings including: hospitals, clinics, public and community agencies, wellness centers, educational institutions, correctional facilities, elder care facilities, businesses and private practice.
When did art therapy become part of modern medical practice?
Art therapy blossomed into a distinct profession in the 1940s when hospitals and rehabilitation centers began to include art therapy programs along with traditional “talk therapy”. Health care professionals observed that art therapy enhanced the recovery, health and wellness of their patients.
Interested in a career as an Art Therapist?
Interested in pursuing a career as an art therapist? The American Art Therapy Association’s website, is a good place to start your research. Another useful research tool is the National Institutes of Health Office of Science Education. Art therapists are master’s level professionals who hold a degree in art therapy or a related field. According to AOL’s CareerBuilder.com website, art therapy was one of the Top Ten Hot Jobs of 2007.
~ Amanda Miller
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