What Makes Art Therapy
Topic : Power of the art image- What makes art therapy unique?
Although visual expression has been used for healing throughout history, art therapy did not emerge as a distinct profession until the 1940s. Given its short history, “art therapy” exists as a term that describes a collection of diverse practices held together by a belief in the healing value of art making. (American Art Therapy Association [AATA], 2010) Though art making itself is inheritably therapeutic, it is the creation of an art object and the introduction of a “third object” into the previously two- way dialogue between client- therapist that defines and distinguishes the discipline.
Art as Therapy versus Art Psychotherapy
Currently there is no universal definition to Art Therapy. With the constant interplay of various shaping forces, art therapy has changed significantly since its early beginnings (Jones, 2005; Malchiodi, 2007; Waller, 1991). Given the challenge to define the discipline, there is a need to not just simply recognize, but also organize, the various definitions of art therapy. Malchiodi (2007) attempted to depict the tension among various schools of thought by neatly dividing them into two camps – “Art as Therapy” and “Art Psychotherapy”. Referred to as “Art as Therapy”, this notion of art therapy focuses on the “inherent healing power” of the creative process of art making. The process of art making remains central and is seen as an experience that can lead to emotional reparation and personal transformation. (Malchiodi, 2007) A strong focus on the process of art making could be seen in AATA (2010)’s official definition of Art Therapy:
(Art Therapy) is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight. — AATA Website
On the other hand, “Art Psychotherapy”
Although visual expression has been used for healing throughout history, art therapy did not emerge as a distinct profession until the 1940s. Given its short history, “art therapy” exists as a term that describes a collection of diverse practices held together by a belief in the healing value of art making. (American Art Therapy Association [AATA], 2010) Though art making itself is inheritably therapeutic, it is the creation of an art object and the introduction of a “third object” into the previously two- way dialogue between client- therapist that defines and distinguishes the discipline.
Art as Therapy versus Art Psychotherapy
Currently there is no universal definition to Art Therapy. With the constant interplay of various shaping forces, art therapy has changed significantly since its early beginnings (Jones, 2005; Malchiodi, 2007; Waller, 1991). Given the challenge to define the discipline, there is a need to not just simply recognize, but also organize, the various definitions of art therapy. Malchiodi (2007) attempted to depict the tension among various schools of thought by neatly dividing them into two camps – “Art as Therapy” and “Art Psychotherapy”. Referred to as “Art as Therapy”, this notion of art therapy focuses on the “inherent healing power” of the creative process of art making. The process of art making remains central and is seen as an experience that can lead to emotional reparation and personal transformation. (Malchiodi, 2007) A strong focus on the process of art making could be seen in AATA (2010)’s official definition of Art Therapy:
(Art Therapy) is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight. — AATA Website
On the other hand, “Art Psychotherapy”