Choosing the best form of therapy can be a challenging task, especially if you have low motivation and affect as a symptom of your mental illness. A typical therapy is one in which everyday forms of communication are utilized, i.e. a client seeking assistance talks about their ills with a trained therapist about their issues. Nevertheless, these therapies involve a certain level of comfort – with yourself and your issues. You must also be comfortable expressing these issues to others. Art therapy is an excellent alternative starting point. Art is a primal form of communication: One thing we instinctively do as children is grab a crayon and mark on the walls! Art therapy helps you recapture your innermost creative, authentic self in a very primal, direct way. We are all creators; we were made to create.

Clients can express themselves through artistic mediums and gain a better understanding of their situation through art therapy. The purpose of this article is to explain what makes art therapy therapeutic, and how art influences the brain and behavior. Also, I will discuss how art therapy can help clients better understand their behavior, as well as how cognitive behavioral therapy can help clients change their thoughts and behavior.

What is art therapy?

Many therapist refer to art therapy as being a blend between art and psychotherapy. Art acts as a medium in which people can express feelings they may not be fully aware of. It is like another language in itself. Art therapy helps all ages explore emotions, reduce stress, walk to problem solving and decision making while enhancing feelings of well-being. Many people are under the thought that you have to be an artist to be able to practice art therapy. This cannot be further from the truth. The Art Therapy Path is not about the quality of the painting or drawing that you make – it’s about what comes up for you along the journey. Art therapy works whether you draw stick figures, doodle, splash colors on a surface, or create a masterpiece. It’s a process, and it’s all about you.