ART THERAPY – “ Freedom of expression “

By its very nature we intuitively know that art is healing and therapeutic—but why? Is it the process itself, the actual act of making art that soothes our nerves and settles our brains? Is it the freedom of expression it allows us? Among art therapists a dichotomy exists as to why art therapy works. Is the creative process itself the therapy? Or does the artwork act as a form of communication between the client and the therapist? From my experience, art therapy functions as a combination of these two perspectives, facilitating both catharsis and therapeutic expression. The needs and abilities of the clients will often determine how the art process works and how the healing takes place. In some people the art will act to access the subconscious mind, uncovering new insights that can be discussed with the therapist. Some clients may have disabilities that create verbal challenges; for some it is too painful to talk about an “unspeakable” trauma or abuse. In t...