Running head: HEAL WITH ART

2014

Camille Wildenburg
University of Florida
1/1/2014

HEAL WITH ART

HEAL WITH ART

Introduction..4
What is Art Therapy?..5
History of Art Therapy6
How and when is art therapy used?...10
Why and how does art therapy work to heal?12

HEAL WITH ART

Healing Through Art

Camille Wildenburg
ARE 6049 F25
February 28, 2014

HEAL WITH ART

Many think Art therapy to be

only a recent form of psychotherapy
used to heal the mentally sick, but in
all actuality art therapy has existed
informally as an unofficial healing
process for thousands of years (Cherry, 2014). It is a profession and psychotherapy
option in which those, who are sick or disabled in some way, find comfort and are able to

heal mental and emotional wounds through the facilitation of expression and creativity
through art making developmental methods (arttherapyjournal.org, 2014). The multitudes
of benefits from art therapy are numerous, which is why there is so much research and
emphasis into the development of this area of profession today.

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Art therapy is a mental health profession

(art therapy association, 2013) in which
professionals (art therapists) assist patients and
clients in making art through the use of creativity,
self-expression and tangible media to help an ill
person to be restored and find some form of
comfort through an artistic process (Cherry, 2014).This act of creating and expressing

ones self can be healing and thats the whole idea that makes up the foundation of art
therapy (Walsh, 2008). Ultimately, art therapy becomes a tool with a means of help(ing)
people express hidden emotions; reduces stress, fear, and anxiety; and provides a sense of
freedom (Walsh, 2008, par. 3).
Currently art therapy is a process that benefits many people: those who have a
disability and even those who are physically able. Individuals who can gain great
advantage from art therapy sessions are those who have suffered a traumatic experience

(i.e. combatting in war, surviving a natural disaster, enduring abuse), anyone who has a
severe health condition or disability (i.e. traumatic brain injury, dementia, autism, cancer,
depression, addiction) (American art therapy association, 2013). Art therapy can be
useful to people with these types of mental illnesses because it provides an opportunity
to enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of art making (American art therapy association,
2013, p.1).
Art therapy, technically, involves almost all forms of art making, more specifically

and commonly, types of art, like painting, drawing, and sculpting, are used. Therapy
sessions that use art can be attended as individual sessions or done in group sessions.
These days art therapy is practiced in hospitals, medical centers, schools, psychiatric
centers, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, prisons, day care treatment programs,
nursing homes, hospices, patients' homes, and art studios (Walsh, 2008).

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The history of art as humanity knows it initiated

with the drawings of animals inside of caves found in
European countries almost 40,000 years ago. Art has
consistently served the purpose of visually symbolizing
and self-expressing emotions and creativity for human
beings (Marovt, 2012).
Naturally, many people have unconsciously used the art making process, for a long

time, as a tool to cultivate and deal with emotions. One primary example is that of artist
Pablo Picasso. He is famously known for his Blue Period in which he primarily painted
art works in monochromatic compositions using only paints with tones of blue, which he
began doing in the early twentieth century. His Blue Period has said to be heavily
influenced by the suicide of one of his friends, Carlos Casagemas, in February of 1901
(Pablopicasso.org, 2009). This period is a good example of art as therapy because Pablo
chose to only paint with blue, using that primary color as a visual symbol for his mood to

manifest his feelings of sadness. (Marovt, 2012).

Old Guitarist
Pablo Picasso
1903

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Another famous artist who would have used art as a form of therapy is Vincent
Van Gogh. It is well known that Mr. Van Gogh suffered from various mental illnesses,
such as bipolar disorder and clinical depression, having cut off his own ear for a reason
that is still unknown in addition to trying to commit (an unsuccessful) suicide. Vincent is
well known for having painted his famous landscape post impressionist painting, Starry
Night, while looking out of the window of the Mental Hospital he was staying in France
in June of 1889 (Wetterlund, 2006). This provides evidence that while he spent time

healing at mental hospital, painting and creating art may have helped to further that
process. (Marovt, 2012).

Starry Night
Vincent Van Gogh
1889

It wasnt until the 1940s that a formalized distinction of art as therapy was
organized. It was a man named Adrian Hill, in England, who started becoming aware of
the processes of making art as therapeutic ways of helping people to deal with unresolved

emotions, referring to it as art therapy. He realized this while in a hospital being treated
for tuberculosis, an artist worked with Adrian to make art and this is when it became
obvious to him that art could be a logical and successful facilitator of helping the sick
heal (arttherapyjournal.org, 2014).
Edward Adamson, an artist, was the next man to cultivate and expand on the ideas

HEAL WITH ART

of Adrian Hill. Adamson and Hill worked together to promote the idea of art as therapy
by starting a program that offered assisted art making to long term mentally ill patients in
British mental hospitals. Edward continued to establish programs of art therapy and even
went on to open art studios where patients and clients could come and freely self-express
themselves without feeling like they needed to be psychologically treated
(arttherapyjournal.org, 2014).
In the United States there were also two main figures in the development of art as

therapy. Margaret Naumburg, a psychologist and Edith Kramer an artist who had her
doctorate, two American women, referred to their art works as art therapy and believed in
the idea of using art to release the unconscious by encouraging free association (When
was art therapy started, arttherapyjournal.org, 2014). This idea of free association
facilitated in the development of art programs across the United States and by the
middle of the 20th century, many hospitals and mental health facilities began including
art therapy programs after observing how this form of therapy could promote emotional,

developmental, and cognitive growth in children (arttherapyjournal.org, 2014).Then the

American Art Therapy Association was founded and established in 1969. The
organization was formalized with an Art Therapy Credentials Board to set standards for
art therapists and presently the association has grown to more than 4,500 members
(Walsh, 2014).
Currently, art therapy is a field that has expanded since the mid twentieth century.
Art therapists can be found practicing the artistic healing process at schools, hospitals,

rehabilitation centers, community centers, and even wellness centers (just to name a
few).There are art therapist degrees being offered that provide intensive studies for
preparations in the art therapy field, which has grown to encompass many locations all
throughout the world. Presently art therapists must study to attain a minimum of a
masters degree in art therapy and have a background in studio arts to begin at an entry
level in a career for art therapy. Unfortunately, in todays society there are only a handful

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of universities offering masters programs or doctorates programs in art therapy, making a

career in therapeutic arts a challenging one to achieve. Even after the attainment of a
degree, a license to practice is required (American art therapy association, 2013).

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Art therapy is used in many ways

and for many different people who are in
need of psychotherapy. Art therapy is used
for patients dealing with any mental health
issues, as well as people in need of
rehabilitation. It is practiced in wellness,
educational, medical forensic, community

and private practice settings. It can also be

used with varied clients who want to use
therapy sessions as a source for healing when it comes to individual, couples, family, and
group wellness(American art therapy association, 2013).
In addition art therapy is an effective treatment for people experiencing
developmental, medical, educational, and social or psychological impairment (American
art therapy association, 2013, p.1). Individuals who benefit from art therapy include those

who have survived trauma resulting from combat, abuse, and natural disaster; persons
with adverse physical health conditions such as cancer, traumatic brain injury, and other
health disability; and persons with autism, dementia, depression, and other disorders. Art
therapy helps people resolve conflicts, improve interpersonal skills, manage problematic
behaviors, reduce negative stress, and achieve personal insight. Art therapy also
provides an opportunity to enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of art making (American
art therapy association, 2013, p.1).

For those in need of art as therapy, patients will find that there is an array of media
and art techniques available through which to heal. Art therapists most commonly use
drawing and painting to help clients in the art making process, but there is also sculpture,
collage and pottery available for those who wish to work outside the basic art techniques.
Therapists will use art media such as acrylic paints, clay, magazines, glue, scissors,
charcoal, pencils, markers, and crafts to facilitate the patient in creating art works. It is

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11

the use of these media through which the patient can tangibly touch and feel and use the
media to create. This is where the connection to the self-expression develops thus
furthering the creative therapeutic experience (American art therapy association, 2013).
In addition to the types of art and artistic tools being used, there are specific
methods in art therapy that help the art therapists patient to excel. At times, in an art
therapy session, the therapist will encourage the patient and artist to refer to the images in
the art work and talk about the meanings and significances associated with the artistic

images. This helps both parties to get a better insight of the artwork and situation of the
patient/artist (Malchiodi, 2011). Another frequently used technique, active imagination,
helps the patient/artist to use spontaneous thoughts in his or her mind as material to use in
their art work to ultimately help clients gain a deeper understanding and growth
(Malchiodi, 2011). Lastly, using a technique called the third-hand approach, therapists
guide the artist patient in manifesting the art of the patient to help them make the best art
work that they can (Malchiodi, 2011).

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Art therapy has a multitude of

benefits that have been proven through
statistics and research (American art therapy
association, 2013). Ideally and ultimately,
art therapy, over time, becomes a means of
help(ing) people express hidden emotions;
reduces stress, fear, and anxiety; and

provides a sense of freedom (Walsh, 2008,

par. 3).The process is used to help people
manage physical and emotional problems
by using creative activities to express
emotionsproviding a way for people to
come to terms and express unspoken and often unconscious concerns about illness
and their lives (Walsh, 2008, par. 1). The resulting artwork (helps)to explore (the

clients) feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior

and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and
increase self-esteem (American art therapy association, 2013, p.1) . Research supports
the use of art therapy within a professional relationship for the therapeutic benefits gained
through artistic self-expression and reflection for individuals who experience illness,
trauma, and mental health problems and those seeking personal growth (American art
therapy association, 2013, p.1).

Because artists are known for being more in touch with their emotions, art itself
can be used as a powerful tool for people who are mentally dealing with an issue. The
patient acquires the empowerment and he or she becomes the artist and makes the art.
The art making procedure helps to process emotions and feelings that you might not be
otherwise able to express(manifesting) the emotion you are having trouble with (or)
bottling things up (Marovt, 2012, par. 2).

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Research has shown that there are positive outcomes for patients who use art
therapy as a tool for healing, proving art therapy is an effective form of restoration
(Malchiodi, 2013). The following has been proven: Several studies demonstrate that art
therapy enhances the psychosocial treatment of cancer, including decreased symptoms of
distress, improved quality of life and perceptions of body image, reduction of pain
perception, and general physical and psychological health (Malchiodi, 2013, par. 4). In
addition, Art therapy strengthens positive feelings, alleviates distress, and helps

individuals to clarify existential questions (as well as) engaging in drawing and painting
is an effective method for dealing with pain and other disturbing symptoms of illness and
treatment (Malchiodi, 2013, par. 4).

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Resources
Cherry, K. (2014). What is art therapy. Psychology. www.about.com retrieved on February 12, 2014
from http://psychology.about.com/od/psychotherapy/f/art-therapy.htm
Malchiodi, C. (2013, February 27) Yes, virginia, there is some art therapy research. Art Therapy.
www.psychologytoday.com retrieved on February 20, 2014 from

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-healing-arts/201302/yes-virginia-there-is-some-arttherapy-research
Malchiodi, C. (2011, August 17). 5 Quick facts about art therapy. Psych Central. Psychcentral.com

retrieved on February 20, 2014 from

http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/attachments/231/five-quickfactsaboutarttherapy.pdf.
Marovt, J. (2012, May 22). The benefits of art as therapy. Psykopaint Blog. www.psykopaint.com
retrieved on February 18, 2014 from http://www.psykopaint.com/blog/article/benefits-of-arttherapy-part-one/
Pablo Picassos blue period. (2009). Pablo Picasso. www.pablopicasso.org retieved on February 18, 2014
from http://www.pablopicasso.org/blue-period.jsp. 2009.
The history of art therapy. (2014). Art Therapy Journal. www.arttherapyjournal.org retrieved on
February 16, 2014 from http://www.arttherapyjournal.org/art-therapy-history.html
Walsh, SM (2008, November 1). Art therapy. American Cancer Association. www.Cancer.org. retrieved
February 15, 2014 from
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicin
e/mindbodyandspirit/art-therapy
Wetterlund, K. (2006). Starry night. Moma Learning. www.moma.org retrieved on February 18,
2014 from http://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/vincent-van-gogh-the-starry-night-1889
What is art therapy? (2013) Pp. 1-2. Art Therapy. American Art Therapy Association.
www.arttherapy.org retrieved on February 15, 2014 from
http://www.arttherapy.org/upload/whatisarttherapy.pdf