ART THERAPY 2
Art therapy encompasses the application of different as well as creative techniques like
sculpturing, painting, coloring, as well as drawing in assisting an individual to express based on
their artistry. The main objective of this activity is to let the practitioner be able to evaluate the
emotional as well as the psychological undertones through their art. Therefore, having counsel
from a professional art therapist, the client will be in a position to decode the nonverbal artwork
such as symbols, metaphors, and messages that can be located in these respective art form that
could guide them into a better comprehension of the patient’s behavior and feelings such that
they can proceed into solving more underlying issues. Art therapy can be conducted with
couples, individuals, or groups within different forms of settings like senior centers, private
counseling, or community organizations (Bitonte & De Santo, 2014).
Art therapy is helpful for people of different ages in managing addictions, improving the
self-esteem, exploring emotions, managing physical disability or illness, improving symptoms
related to depression and anxiety, as well as relieving stress. Art therapy has other numerous
benefits such as improving the sense of self-awareness, enhance mood, coping skills, personal
empowerment, sense of connection, social skills, safer communication of difficult emotions,
sense of independence, as well as improve the positive perspective of a person’s life (Hajar,
2015). The ability of art therapy to enable an individual be in position to express their points of
view in ways words cannot is what makes art therapy efficient for some patients when compared
with other conventional psychotherapy. For instance, when a patient sits across the room and
talks face to face with his or her therapist, some patients may find it difficult to communicate,
but when it comes to art therapy, they will pour out their heart through the art hence enabling the
practitioner to facilitate the therapy process.
