Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art
media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile
emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills,
improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. A goal in art therapy is to
improve or restore a client’s functioning and his or her sense of personal well-being. Art therapy
practice requires knowledge of visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art forms) and
the creative process, as well as of human development, psychological, and counseling theories and
techniques.
Today art therapy is widely practiced in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, psychiatric
and rehabilitation facilities, wellness centers, forensic institutions, schools, crisis centers, senior
communities, private practice, and other clinical and community settings. During individual
and/or group sessions art therapists elicit their clients’ inherent capacity for art making to
enhance their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Research supports the use of art
therapy within a professional relationship for the therapeutic benefits gained through artistic selfexpression and reflection for individuals who experience illness, trauma, and mental health
problems and those seeking personal growth.
