What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy uses art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork as a therapeutic and healing process. Art therapists at The Art Room are trained and licensed in both art and talk therapy.

​

Benefits Of Art Therapy

Art therapy may have several mental health benefits, including:

• Emotional Release: Art therapy can provide a healthy outlet to express and work through difficult emotions and to let go of emotions and beliefs that don't serve you.

• Self-Esteem: While the outcome or piece of art isn't necessarily the goal, you can develop renewed confidence as you gain artistic talent and discover new abilities through the process of creative expression.

• Self-Exploration: Making art often allows people to explore feelings or themes that may be tricky to express in words.

• Stress Relief: Recent research indicates that art therapy can improve stress and emotional control. When we make art, scientists believe we can achieve a trance-like "flow" state that reduces levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.

​

Inaccurate Use of the Term "Art Therapy"

"Inaccurate use of “art therapy” often occurs due to a lack of knowledge about the profession. Such instances provide an opportunity to offer accurate information and educate the public. It is with this in mind that the AATA encourages outreach to individuals and/or companies that may be found to inaccurately categorize activities (such as trainings that are offered by non-art therapists) or products (such as adult coloring books) as “art therapy.” On occasion, non-art therapist practitioners might be found to advertise their services as “art therapy.” This is an inaccurate use of the term, as art therapy can only be practiced by an individual who possesses the required training, certification, and/or state licensure. Bona fide art therapy is beyond the scope of practice of non-art therapists." -American Art Therapy Association