http://www.crchealth.

com/types-of-therapy/what-is-art-therapy/

What is it?

1. Therapeutic technique that incorporates various forms of visual arts (ex: painting,
drawing, sculpture, etc) in a way of communication.
2. Designed to help individuals who have been struggling with addiction, trauma,
depression, grief, or other mental, emotional, or physical changes
3. One general definition, provided by the Art Therapy Blog, is that Art therapy is a form of
expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve a persons
physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
4. A way for the patients to express their emotions without having to put it into words
5. Addresses issues

The British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) indicates that art therapy
offers unique insights due to the nature of its three way process between
the client, the therapist and the image or artifact.
Benefits:
Can be used for multiple issues and conditions
Significant emotional experiences (such as trauma and addiction recovery) are more
likely to prompt feelings or memories that cant be easily put into words.
Right-brain activity (where visual memories are stored)
Takes client and therapist out of the traditional climate of one on one discussions;
opening up doors for client to open up
Conditions:
1. Addiction Recovery
2. Trauma Recovery
3. Grief/Loss Treatment
4. Sex Addiction Recovery
5. Depression
6. Panic
7. Anxiety
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pon.1175/full
anthroposophy; a formal educational, therapeutic, and creative system established by Rudolf
Steiner, seeking to use mainly natural means to optimize physical and mental health and well-
being.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether improvement in depression, anxiety or

fatigue during chemotherapy following anthroposophic art therapy intervention is substantial

enough to warrant a controlled trial.

60 cancer patients

Once a week art therapy sessions (painting)

Results: BFI scores were higher in the participant group (p=0.06). In the intervention group, the
median HADS score for depression was 9 at the beginning and 7 after the fourth appointment
(p=0.021). The median BFI score changed from 5.7 to 4.1 (p=0.24). The anxiety score was in
the normal range from the beginning.

Conclusion: Anthroposophical art therapy is worthy of further study in the treatment of cancer
patients with depression or fatigue during chemotherapy treatment. Copyright 2007 John
Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

https://www1.cfnc.org/Plan/For_A_Career/Career_Profile/Career_Profile.aspx?id=TIxmKQ1O1B
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Opposing Argument

Brudenell is an art therapist with his own practice on Vancouver Island. "Just getting people to
work through their problems using art therapy is a nice idea but it doesn't fly," says Brudenell.
"Art therapy is extremely good for getting [problems] out, but once they're out you're going to
need some training to know what to do with them."

http://www.arttherapyjournal.org/art-therapy-history.html

https://arttherapy.org/about/