Art Therapy
What is art therapy?
Art therapy is a way of creating, viewing, and talking about art to help people heal. The art therapist uses pictures, art supplies, and visual symbols as well as an understanding of human behavior to help patients address their own personal needs, hopes, desires, and concerns.
Can art therapy help people with cancer?
Yes. Art therapy can help people access their emotions, increase self-awareness, and promote healing. It can reveal unspoken or unconscious thoughts, fears, or concerns and, in doing so, make them easier to address and resolve. It can also help patients access deep inner resources of joy, clarity, and inspiration.
Scientific study is under way to determine and document the therapeutic value of art therapy for people with cancer and other conditions. Meanwhile, many clinicians have observed significant benefits of art therapy among people with cancer, and some studies have already confirmed this. The act of creating art, and the practice of appreciating it, either individually, with loved ones, or in groups, can help reduce stress, fear and anxiety, and provide a sense of freedom and inner fulfillment.
Art therapy alone is not a proven treatment for cancer, nor is it known to affect the biology of the disease or an individual’s outcome. It should not be used as a substitute for conventional care.
How does art therapy work?
Art therapy can help you express thoughts, feelings, or memories of which you may have been unaware, or otherwise unable to express. Such thoughts, feelings, or memories—especially those related to your cancer diagnosis—can be transformed in a way that greatly enhances the cancer journey. Creating a drawing or painting of an emotion or event can be a powerful, therapeutic experience that helps reveal some of your greatest gifts and strengths. Feeling calm, centered, and connected with your own inner truth is a very powerful tool for healing.
Art therapists work with patients individually or in groups. One form of art therapy focuses on self-expression. Here, the therapist provides the materials necessary to create paintings, drawings, sculptures, and other types of artwork. This type of therapy can be very interactive, and even fun. In another form of art therapy, patients may view pieces of art, often in photographs, and then talk with a therapist or a group about what they see and feel.
Credentialed art therapists receive formal education, training, and/or certification at various programs and institutions throughout the United States. For example, certification from the American Therapy Credentials Board requires at least 1,000 hours of direct client contact after obtaining a master’s degree in an approved program. It is always wise to ask therapists about their credentials and training before working with them.
Are there any risks or complications associated with art therapy?
Art therapy is safe and can be quite effective in helping you better deal with many aspects of the "roller-coaster" experience of cancer and treatment. As an addition to your cancer treatment plan, it has the potential to be pleasant, productive, and inspiring.
How can I find a qualified art therapy practitioner?
It is important to select a practitioner who is qualified, experienced, and trustworthy. Click here to learn more about how to do this.