Although art therapy began as a mental health profession in the 1940s, there is often little public awareness of it as a field, or it is over-simplified and misunderstood. In those early days, Edith Kramer and Margaret Naumburg—often considered the grandmothers of art therapy—each presented their own philosophy of art therapy as informed by their education, training, and practice: Kramer called it “art as therapy”, while Naumburg preferred “art psychotherapy”.

“Art + Therapy = ?”

So it is art? Or therapy? Elinor Ulman, another early art therapy pioneer, sought early on to define the field and concluded that it is both art and therapy, where the art is “the meeting ground of the inner and outer world.” Judith Rubin, another influential art therapist most well-known as the art lady on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (1966-1969), coined the formula “Art + Therapy = ?” It was intended to convey the blending of both disciplines and the longstanding efforts within the field to define itself and its focus between process and product. Sometimes, the outcome is greater than the sum of its parts.

At present, art therapy is a regulated mental health profession that requires a Master’s level education, post-degree supervision of clinical practice, and an exam for Board Certification. It is considered an interdisciplinary mix of art and psychology. In the time since its inception, art therapy has defined itself more widely than its early psychodynamic roots, adapting into numerous approaches and psychological theories.

Common Responses and Misconceptions

The term ‘art therapy’ is often met with a mix of curiosity from those who are unfamiliar with this specialization in the field of mental health. For some, it conjures thoughts of adult coloring books or of children making art.

Among the most common responses to art therapy:

I’m not an artist, I can’t draw!
It’s for kids; as an adult I would feel silly.
That seems like a waste of time.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that one must be an artist or possess some skill in art in order to engage in art therapy. The truth is that it’s about process over product. The art serves as a sort of container for the material that is being explored in therapy. It does not matter what it looks like on the page.

We live in a culture of productivity and rush. The parts of us that want to fix and solve our problems will keep us in the cognitive realm, thinking or hoping that it is the key to unlocking the issues we are facing. That only gets us so far. So much of what brings clients to therapy lives well beneath our thoughts, in the sensory and emotional realms. Art therapy—especially for those who come to trust in the process—helps us come to new insights by connecting and being with the issue in different ways than if we stayed elevated in the cognitive realm.

Externalizing

“Art is a vehicle that allows us to transcend linear time, to travel backward and forward into personal and transpersonal history, into possibilities that weren’t realized and those that might be.” Pat. B Allen, PhD, ATR

Art making in the context of art therapy is considered an important tool for creative embodiment and empowerment as well as for coping, gaining personal insight, and exploring difficulties in a safe therapeutic container. One of the most notable aspects of art therapy is its ability to help one externalize their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Through this process, one can gain perspective, deepen self-awareness, and increase insight into the issue at hand. There is also an element of mindfulness in art therapy. It allows for mindful engagement in the present moment, an ability to be with a nonverbal awareness of emotions and sensations while witnessing whatever thoughts may arise in the process.

Art therapy and the Brain

Neuroscience research has provided an understanding of art therapy and the ways traumatic memories are stored and accessed, with information that links brain processes to the underlying mechanisms of creativity and art. Art therapy facilitates nonverbal access to emotions, memories, and sensations by means of visual and somatosensory information processing, with an additional motor component linked to the tactile qualities of the art media. Kinesthetic and sensory input further activates multiple brain areas and functions, and bridges both hemispheres of the brain in a way that supports both creative embodiment, and nonverbal processing of implicit and explicit memory.

Trauma and Art Therapy

Research in trauma and neuroscience is an ongoing and emerging field of inquiry, but strong evidence exists to support that trauma can result in a state of disconnection between mind and body, either as a result of protective coping in the form of dissociation, or a shutdown of body awareness and physical sensations. It is also understood that trauma is held in the body at a neurobiological level, which indicates the need for therapeutic modalities that address body-based, nonverbal symptoms and sensations.

The nonverbal nature of communication through art therapy can be an effective means for healing, whether in reestablishing safety, through processing trauma, or in moving toward posttraumatic growth. Visual and creative expression can access implicit traumatic memories stored as images, emotions, and sensations. Symptoms can be reduced through externalizing painful emotions, reconstructing and processing the traumatic experiences, and reactivating a positive sense of self-worth and self-esteem.

The Many Uses for Art Therapy

Art therapy has numerous applications in addition to supporting trauma. These include, but are not limited to:

Trauma, complex trauma, and PTSD
Anxiety/depression
Life transitions and changes
Processing grief
Making difficult decisions
Identity development
Finding meaning and purpose
Psychedelic integration

Mechanisms of Change

The healing process in art therapy is intricate, and numerous research studies have sought to identify the factors that contribute toward the growth and change that is often seen in individuals who engage in art therapy. Among those mechanisms of change in art therapy are nonverbal communication, spatial expression, externalization of thoughts and feelings into the art product, decreased defenses, and the expression of both creative and physical energy.

Communication • Metaphor • Art as Empowerment

Art as communication is a powerful tool for self-exploration and self-expression, and a counter to our cultural trend of avoiding emotional expression. In some instances, art can help individuals to tell a story or relate an experience that they would otherwise be unable to verbalize, especially in the aftermath of trauma. Making art is a metaphor in itself and a means to embrace the possibility of multiple interpretations on a symbolic, conscious, and unconscious level. Art as empowerment addresses those individuals who are disempowered, disenfranchised, or whose sense of personal power has been diminished through life events and experiences. In this context, art making can be especially helpful for those histories of trauma by providing an outlet for gaining meaning from their struggles while finding and honoring their strengths.

Across multiple research studies, common themes have been found as a change mechanism in art therapy, on both intrapersonal and interpersonal levels:

Connecting to inner self and gaining new insights
Experiencing a sense of achievement through art
Transcending to a safe place through art

One research study by Gruber and Oepen (2018) sought to examine the use of art therapy to regulate emotions and found it effective for mood enhancement and, in some cases, was more effective for emotion regulation than other therapeutic approaches. The use of art therapy, whether alone or in conjunction with other approaches, can be used as a tool to augment the healing and growth that is possible in therapy.

Taking the Next Step

You deserve support and the possibility of greater fulfillment, ease, and connection to self and others. Reach out to schedule a free 20-minute consultation with Alicia. During the consultation, we can discuss what is bringing you to therapy, and explore whether it makes sense to incorporate art therapy into the work we do together.

What is Art Therapy?