Art Therapy

Paper Summary:

The artistic process is one that has often mystified therapists by its very nature. Therapists have attempted to channel the artistic impulses of individuals and the processes of artistic creation in a way to better facilitate the therapeutic process. This paper provides a brief review of the scholarly literature and debate on the subject, analyzing how different therapists have made various uses of art in their clinical and academic work.

From the Paper:

"The uses of art in the theraputic process are manifold. One use is simply to better enable individuals to express themselves in terms of meaning. For some individuals, speaking or "talk therapy" is not always a feasible or available means for communication. Sometimes this is because they are so blocked by past events they cannot express themselves. Other times it is because speaking about one's feelings was so discouraged in their past or in their present environment, that this is not a comfortable means of expression for them. On the most practical level of all, some individuals, such as autistic children and adolescents, do not necessarily have the verbal skills to convey their inner thoughts and feelings in a therapeutic environment. Very young children, even those who are quite verbal in the sense of being talkative, do not necessarily have the cognitive or intellectual maturity to engage in talk therapy. Thus, making use of art, of movement or dance therapy, of vocal or theater therapy, or even of creative play therapy can prove useful in all of these cases."

More papers on Art Therapy:

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• Term Paper # 146581 : "The Field of Art Therapy - An Overview"
• Term Paper # 136178 : "Art Therapy and Its Benefits for Children"

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