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What is Art and Expressive Therapy?
What is Art and Expressive Therapy?
Art therapy combines the creative process and psychotherapy, facilitating self-exploration and understanding. Using imagery, colour and shape as part of this creative therapeutic process, thoughts and feelings can be expressed that would otherwise be difficult to articulate.
There are certain qualifications required of art therapists.
In Canada and the United States, art therapists must have at minimum a master’s degree or a master’s level diploma in art therapy before identifying themselves within the profession. This graduate level education includes supervised clinical practicum hours (minimum requirement for all practicums is 700 hours and at least 350 of these hours should involve direct client contact), thus ensuring the safety of the client as well as professional liability for agencies and employers offering this form of therapy.
FAQ asks questions
FAQ asks questions
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM EXPRESSIVE ART THERAPY?
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM EXPRESSIVE ART THERAPY?
Expressive Art Therapy can benefit children to older adults. Expressive Art supports participants to self-reflect on complex and maybe unknown feelings in a non-threatening way. It is often challenging to express difficult experiences and feelings through verbal communication. Expressive Art Therapy is a strength-based approach, meaning that participants have what it takes to overcome difficult experiences with the therapist's support.
Expressive Art is focused provide creative and action-oriented approaches to self-regulation and co-regulation.
Expressive Art Therapy is especially beneficial for people that English is not their first language and from different cultural backgrounds.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A SESSION?
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A SESSION?
In the initial meeting, you and I (the Art Therapist) will plan based on your goals, needs and circumstances. We can integrate the type of expression you like the most and more comfortable for you. I will suggest art expressions and material, but I respect and support your preferences and comfort level. These expressions can be based on your culture, previous experience, world view, values and social context. Some suggestions could be Art, music/sound, dance/movement, enactment/improvisation, storytelling/narrative, play, and imagination. The sessions can last from 1 hr to 1:30 min.
DO I NEED ARTISTIC SKILLS TO BENEFIT FROM EXPRESSIVE ART THERAPIES?
DO I NEED PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE?
DO I NEED PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE?
No artistic or photographic experience or talent is needed! The benefits come from the process, not the final product. We all can be creative, and there are no rules on how to express ourselves. Your art expressions are prompts to explore your feelings, experiences, and emotions with the Art Therapist.
IS THE THERAPIST GOING TO INTERPRET MY ARTWORK?
IS THE THERAPIST GOING TO INTERPRET MY ARTWORK?
I believe that you are the expert on your own life and experiences. I will make reflective questions to help you explore your images. You will explore and find meaning in your images.
You will discover new narratives and ways to tell your story.
WHAT MATERIAL DO I NEED?
There is no need to get expensive material. You can use a wide range of things you find around your house. I will suggest a list of materials or use your cell phone. The material could be from crayons, paper, magazines, makers, recycled and scraped material, etc. Your imagination is the limit!
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