Art Therapy: Art as Therapy
by Kristin O'Connor
I write this article as my alter-ego, the Art Therapist! Although I have recently tucked my degree away for a time, I have my master's in Art Therapy from NYU.
If you are wondering what an art therapist is, you are in good company, plenty of people have not come across this amazing field. On a very basic level, art therapis is a form of psychotherapy where the primary communicator is artwork rather than relying solely on talking.
There are many schools of thought surrounding the application of Art Therapy. For instance, some art therapists believe that the greatest expression comes from free choice in the art making process while others feel directives are more useful. Art therapy is and can be applied across the board from children to adults, schools to hospitals, private practices to homeless shelters, etc.
The common belief, or more accurately, knowledge that ALL Art Therapists posses (despite their philosophical orientation) is that very simply: Art IS Therapy.
The act of creating artwork has been proven to calm the body and mind as well as potentially help patients heal more quickly (something I would attribute to the deep level of stress-reduction). I compare the act of creating artwork to practicing yoga. During either activity, the conscious mind is completely consumed with ONE, singular focus... providing time away from all the other streaming thoughts we tend to have at any given moment of the day.
This well deserved and important hiatus from our busy lives and consuming thoughts can be practiced in as little as 5 minutes (or for as long as you like!). It does NOT matter what skill level you perceive yourself to be at, its the act of creating that counts!
Here are a few suggestions to get started:
Art Form Materials Drawing Paper and pencil (or colored pencils) or charcoal Painting Acrylic, Tempera, Oil (on canvas, wood, sturdy paper, etc.), brushes Additive Sculpture Clay or found objects (you are putting elements together to create a sculpture) Subtractive Sculpture Stone, wood, styrofoam, marble (you start with a block of material and use tools to remove pieces of that material until you achieve your desired shape). Collage magazines, colored paper, material, etc. Quilting fabric, thread, sewing machine, ruler, scissors Knitting yarn, knitting needles Photography camera Pottery clay, wheel, glaze, kiln (there are pottery venues where you can use their facilities to throw your own clay or glaze pre-made pottery) Print Making Print making studios are at most colleges offering art studio courses... there are several forms of printmaking, but one is lithograph (you use a stone or metal plate and run your design through a large press) Encaustic Melting colored wax (crayons) for painting. Watercolor Watercolors, paintbrush, watercolor paper (thick and dense)
by Kristin O'Connor
I write this article as my alter-ego, the Art Therapist! Although I have recently tucked my degree away for a time, I have my master's in Art Therapy from NYU.
If you are wondering what an art therapist is, you are in good company, plenty of people have not come across this amazing field. On a very basic level, art therapis is a form of psychotherapy where the primary communicator is artwork rather than relying solely on talking.
There are many schools of thought surrounding the application of Art Therapy. For instance, some art therapists believe that the greatest expression comes from free choice in the art making process while others feel directives are more useful. Art therapy is and can be applied across the board from children to adults, schools to hospitals, private practices to homeless shelters, etc.
The common belief, or more accurately, knowledge that ALL Art Therapists posses (despite their philosophical orientation) is that very simply: Art IS Therapy.
The act of creating artwork has been proven to calm the body and mind as well as potentially help patients heal more quickly (something I would attribute to the deep level of stress-reduction). I compare the act of creating artwork to practicing yoga. During either activity, the conscious mind is completely consumed with ONE, singular focus... providing time away from all the other streaming thoughts we tend to have at any given moment of the day.
This well deserved and important hiatus from our busy lives and consuming thoughts can be practiced in as little as 5 minutes (or for as long as you like!). It does NOT matter what skill level you perceive yourself to be at, its the act of creating that counts!
Here are a few suggestions to get started:
| Art Form | Materials |
| Drawing | Paper and pencil (or colored pencils) or charcoal |
| Painting | Acrylic, Tempera, Oil (on canvas, wood, sturdy paper, etc.), brushes |
| Additive Sculpture | Clay or found objects (you are putting elements together to create a sculpture) |
| Subtractive Sculpture | Stone, wood, styrofoam, marble (you start with a block of material and use tools to remove pieces of that material until you achieve your desired shape). |
| Collage | magazines, colored paper, material, etc. |
| Quilting | fabric, thread, sewing machine, ruler, scissors |
| Knitting | yarn, knitting needles |
| Photography | camera |
| Pottery | clay, wheel, glaze, kiln (there are pottery venues where you can use their facilities to throw your own clay or glaze pre-made pottery) |
| Print Making | Print making studios are at most colleges offering art studio courses... there are several forms of printmaking, but one is lithograph (you use a stone or metal plate and run your design through a large press) |
| Encaustic | Melting colored wax (crayons) for painting. |
| Watercolor | Watercolors, paintbrush, watercolor paper (thick and dense) |
The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Nourish This site. Recipes and information provided on the Nourish This site are for personal use only.
