What is Art Therapy?
Express emotions, enhance confidence & explore possibilities
In-Person in Gibbsboro, NJ
Virtual in New Jersey, Connecticut & Pennsylvania
Art therapy is a bridge
between words that are too small for big feelings
What is art therapy?
(technically speaking…)
- Guided visual expression is combined with psychotherapy to help people explore thoughts, feelings & experiences
- No artistic training or talent is required and it’s used with people of all ages
- Benefits include enhanced emotional release, problem-solving, insight, confidence, feeling energized & activated & stress reduction
- Art therapists’ education includes human development, counseling theories, psychopathology, ethics, and skills and theories specific to art therapy
- Licensing varies by state, but in NJ (LPAT) and CT (CLAT), only licensed art therapists can call themselves “art therapist” and describe the service they offer as “art therapy,” whereas in PA, art therapists are licensed as licensed professional counselors (LPC)
- Nationally, art therapists are credentialed by the Art Therapy Credentials Board
Your Kid Can Regulate Big Feelings with Art Therapy
What if they were able to…
- Better regulate emotions so they can have fulfilling relationships and focus on school and career goals
- Boost confidence in their ability to constructively respond to challenging situations, like disagreements, miscommunications and completing school assignments
- Have a-ha! moments about what hasn’t been working so they can identify solutions to old problems, like recognizing when they should ask for help or responding to feedback
- Gain clarity about goals and aspirations so they can formulate manageable step-by-step plans to complete school assignments or save money
- Develop skills to manage future challenges so they’re less likely to have setbacks, like having to repeat classes or feeling stuck in unhealthy relationships
- Recognize and build on progress, moving towards independence
Who can benefit from art therapy?
Art therapy can benefit people with a variety of therapy needs, and it is not necessary to be an artist to benefit. I’ll consider developmental needs based on age, in addition to personal experience with artmaking and specific reasons for seeking therapy.
Thus, it’s not so much who can benefit, rather, art therapy is a flexible approach that can be structured based on who the client is.
Kids
- Improve planning, attention and task completion skills
- Build confidence and self-respect
- Process emotions through metaphors using art and storytelling
- Increase recognition of multiple perspectives and empathy
- Address emotional regulation through art making (such as managing responses to disappointment or frustration)
- Promote appropriate and effective communication skills
Teens
- Attention on the art eases self-consciousness
- Emphasis on visual communication eases pressure to discuss sensitive topics before they’re ready, especially important because teens value privacy
- Opportunities to make choices related to the art making process increase sense of autonomy and agency
- Learning or practicing skills promotes confidence and sense of mastery
- Working with “mistakes” or finished art that doesn’t meet expectations improves flexibility and reactivity
Young Adults
- Reconsider past events in a new light to develop more nuanced and mature understanding
- Consider options for current challenges from different perspectives
- Reflect on goals and concerns about the future
- Address tendencies toward perfectionism and either/or thinking
- Enhance creative problem solving and flexible thinking
- Process deeper level emotions that can be difficult to access as adults
- Explore identity as an young adult
How does art therapy work?
Your Kid’s Brain on Art Therapy
Art therapy relies on engaging more parts of the brain to enrich the therapy experience so your child can achieve our goals for therapy. And best of all, they don’t need any talent, only their brain and willingness to try.
Neuroscientists are finding evidence that support the use of art in therapy. People in art therapy use more parts of their brain, thus engaging cognitive, emotional, sensorimotor and executive functions.
Activating more parts of the brain builds connections, known as neural pathways, which are functional and structural changes in thebrain. The brain’s ability to make these changes is called neuroplasticity, which can translate to positive changes in learning, memory, cognitive function and emotional regulation.
Creativity is Key
Creativity is associated with cognitive, emotional and exectutive functions, and in the case of art making, sensorimotor function is needed to translate ideas and emotions into visual expression.
As a client, your child will be guided to use creativity to make art, activating different parts of their brain. They’ll also discuss their art and the art making process, which adds another dimension to how the brain is engaged.
All of this adds up to a boost in neuroplasticity, setting your kid on a path to accomplish changes you hope therapy can provide.
Working with an Art Therapist
During the first session, we will discuss issues of concern, and how my approach could meet your child’s needs. Initially, we want to build rapport, as well as give you and your child an opportunity to decide if I’ll be a good fit. Furthermore, both of you can communicate your questions and concerns to help establish a productive relationship.
A session typically has three parts.
- Discuss what’s on your kid’s mind so I can determine how we’ll proceed.
- They’ll use art materials to respond to a prompt tailored to their needs.
- Once they finish, we’ll discuss how the art relates to their therapy issues.
As they become familiar with the therapy process, we can take a collaborative approach to choices about art materials and processes.
Oftentimes, they’ll make art that can be completed in a single session. However, they’ll have an opportunity to work on longer term art tasks that can take multiple sessions to complete. Regardless of the nature of the art task, it will be designed to address their unique needs.
Discover what success can look like with Prism Art Therapy
Art therapy helps kids teens & young adults address mental health concerns and promotes emotional growth by combining creative expression with talk-based therapy. As a client, your kid can gain insight and skills they need to overcome current challenges, build on strengths, and be their most authentic self.
Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss how my approach might be the right fit for your kid, or get started by self-scheduling your first session.
