In thinking about my interest in art and the idea of studying to be an art therapist, I realized that it all started as both a hobby and a skill when I was really young. I loved to draw my favorite superheroes, video game, Disney, and anime characters, films, and song artists while growing up. I also drew images based on observations from personal experiences or looking at picture books.
Although I received proper training and experimented various media when I entered high school, it was also around that time I discovered more about art, including art therapy. Initially, I used to believe that art is something to admires or have aesthetic meanings due to its visually elements. I eventually realized that it plays various roles in different subjects, such as music, filmmaking, psychology, narration, fashion, architecture, nature itself, and more. In terms of art therapy, creativity serves as a different way of communicating by expressing one’s thoughts and feelings, including subconscious factors in visual form. By learning the artwork’s meanings, the process would benefit self-understanding, acceptance, healing, and empowerment. After learning more about graphic development, I understood how art is connected with the human life
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Each of these factors would benefit people of all ages into learning the broad definition of art. To increase my experience in art education, I believe the central point is continuing to study on the subject and its effect with history in today’s time, and learning new art-making activities. In addition to that, it would also help to promote art to the public and to my clients. As stated by Dobbs (1998), DBAE disciplines represent a comprehensive approach in understanding, appreciating, and experiencing the roles of
People from all around the world suffer from many different anxieties and troubles. They turn to things they enjoy so that they can forget reality and be somewhat happy or simply to communicate with one another. Most of the enjoyment is temporary and not sufficient, that is why they continue doing what they do. Creative Arts Therapy, also known as Expressive Arts Therapy, helps those who find themselves completely lost and have nowhere to go or anyone to go to. They can express themselves however they please. In order to better understand arts therapy one must have a knowledge of creativity, emotions and, of course, people.
Art therapy uses media and the creative process in healing, the key word here being process. We all know how revealing the artwork of children can be of their emotions. Art therapy applies this concept across the spectrum in a multitude of situations. It functions in many of the same settings as conversational therapy: mental health or rehabilitation facilities, wellness centers, educational institutions, nursing homes, in private practices or in a client's home. An art therapist may work with an individual or group, in families or couples. While most therapy is based on conversation between the therapist and his or here client/s, art therapy integrates visual communication into th...
“Art therapy is a form of therapy in making of visual images (paintings, drawings, models etc.) in the presences of a qualified art therapist contributes towards externalization of thoughts and feelings which may otherwise remain unexpressed”(Walter & Gilory, 1992).
Kramer, Edith. “The Art Therapists Third Hand: Reflections on Art, Art Therapy, and Society at Large.” American Journal of Art Therapy Feb. 1986: 71-86.
In today’s society, adolescents use cell phones and social media to communicate with others. It is becoming rare for teenagers to have face to face conversations. However, for teenagers who are in need of therapy, this is what is expected. This can lead to infrequent therapist visits, or no therapy at all. Therefore, an adolescent therapist must think outside the box, which could include art therapy. Art therapy is one of the best ways to help a struggling adolescent. Art therapy, in layman terms, is a type of therapy that allows the person to “voice” their problems and emotions through drawing, painting, or building something. In “Positive Art Therapy: Linking Positive Psychology to Art Therapy Theory, Practice, and Research”, Rebecca A. Wilkinson claims; “In 2009, we proposed that the principles of positive psychology could and should be incorporated into the art therapy, and that art therapy has unique
Many people, including both children and adults, have mental illnesses that may result in necessary therapy or treatment. One type of therapy used on these patients is art therapy. Art therapy is the mix between the methods of psychotherapy along with creative outlets, such as creating art. It is an attempt to heal the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the patient. Art therapy uses art media and includes “special techniques [which] are often particularly useful in helping people express their feelings, develop social skills, solve problems, reduce anxiety, or resolve emotional conflicts” (Cosentino ). The creative process is also used to explore the client’s feelings which includes managing behaviors and addictions, developing social
Many say that art is just a work of creativity. However, it is much more than that. Art can help people in many ways because it raises self-esteem, helps with mental disorders, and it can work as a very powerful therapy method. Art Therapy isn’t all about creativity. It can sometimes help more than actual face to face therapy. It tends to feel less intimidating.
Trauma, as defined by the American Psychological Association, is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. In order to process and overcome a traumatic experience, most seek a therapist. This is especially true for individuals who have dealt with childhood sexual abuse. There are different types of therapy and therapists that exist that individuals go to. Art therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that uses art as it’s main technique of communications in order to improve the emotional and mental well being of the patients. It combines the areas of human development, visual art such as drawing, sculpture, painting and other kinds of art and the artistic process with counseling and psychotherapy.
Before finding the answer to this question it is necessary to understand the background, history, and importance of what Art Therapy is. First of all Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy. In psychotherapy there is an exploration of feelings and concerns in nonverbal and verbal exercises that use simple visual art materials. Art therapy focuses on the creative process for a person instead of what they are able to produce. Confusing and difficult feelings are able to be expressed through using Art Therapy because it is presented in a non-threatening manner. Art Therapy is used to encourage insight, self-awareness, and independence of the patient. People whom use Art Therapy feel they are able to communicate and gain understanding through it. Art Therapy is said to help in a creative process that a person goes through in which they can find "inner guidance" and find "self-healing" at a conscious level. Art Therapy can be expressed through storytelling, poetry, music, dance, visual arts, painting, sculpture, and any other type of creativity activity. Many Art Therapists believe that there is growing a stronger connection between art and healing and believe that Art Therapy is significant to a person's health.
Salmon, Mark. "Teaching Art and Art Therapy." Opportunities in Visual Arts Careers. Chicago: VGM Career, 2001. 102-12. Print.
Some children do not understand how art is relevant in their treatment. Others resist doing anything creative. Samuel Gladding states that “one drawback to using the arts is that some individuals resist doing anything that is creative…” (The Expressive Arts in Counseling). Some children may have a fear of artistic expression, which is why Gladding goes on to state, “… they fear artistic expression is only for the very disturbed” (The Expressive Arts in Counseling). Another limitation of art therapy is that some unskilled councilors misuse the arts in therapeutic practices. The third limitation of art therapy is that some patients might already have insight to the arts. Gladding mentions, “A limitation of using the arts is the ineffectiveness of them for persons who work as artists, who are concrete thinkers, or who are mentally disturbed. In such cases, there is resistance and little insight is gained” (The Expressive Arts in Counseling). Although the first fact may not apply to children because they typically do not obtain careers at this point in their lives, they very well may be disturbed or even concrete
Art is life in motion. Art is everywhere in life and influences peoples’ daily lives. Art is an expression of a person's interior thought, a revelation of the imaginative process. An individual can deem art in many diverse ways, such as it helping people to convey their sentiments and bringing about self-assurance. Art can take several forms, which can be through video games, music, text, painting, and other works of fine art. Therefore, for one to become a great artist, one needs a sense of empathy and the vivid knowledge to compose excelling and great art. Empathy is necessary for a sensible, imaginative, and expressive process to produce art and knowledge helps to improve the artistic and imaginative process.
It all began in middle school when my best friend, Roselan, started to draw. During that time, I would invest my lunch break watching her draw her favorite anime characters in our history class. As I observed her: her mind seemed to be in her own personal world. Once she held her pencil close to a blank sheet of paper, she doesn’t pay attention to her surroundings. Aside from her surroundings, her undivided attention only belongs to what’s going to be in her sketch book. From time to time when I take a glance at her sketches, I see the smallest details that made her drawing come to life: the different shadings and color that highlight the character’s appearance; the different angles and frames to capture and emphasize a unique feature of each character. From there, with her emotions projected on her artwork, my interest in drawing got inspired.
I enjoy art very much and that is why I mainly decided to take this course. Art, I believe is where I am able to express myself with confidence and present my imagination in a form which everyone can look at. I had taken visual arts last year, and I immensely enjoyed the opportunities that I was given by my teacher to present myself in different forms of art. Th...
Art therapy is probably one of the more common therapies in terms of all the creative art therapies. However, I still did not know much about it before this course. It is easy for people who do not know much about the creative art therapies to misunderstand the intentions behind the therapy and view it as just a “music, art, or dance class.” However, through exposure of each of the therapies, I gain an appreciation and understanding of how each modality is used to help clients cope, recover, and express themselves in a nonverbally; especially when they struggle to find the words to communicate how they feel.