Art Therapy: Utilizing the Creative Process for Healing

What is art therapy?

Art Therapy is a specialized profession that strategically utilizes the creative process as a means of enhancing coping skills, self-esteem, emotional resiliency, and insight. Art Therapists are Masters’ level professionals who are trained in human development, counseling, and art processes and materials. Art Therapy is a versatile field and can be successfully implemented with children, adolescents, and adults.

how can art therapy help?

There are multiple benefits to art-making. Because art-making is a primarily right-brain process, it bypasses the cognitive mind and allows clients to access emotions that may have previously been inaccessible. Oftentimes art-making is perceived as less threatening then traditional talk therapy, particularly for children and teens. For instance, drawing a picture of an upsetting event could be easier for a child than talking about it.

Art Therapy has been clinically studied and successfully implemented to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, sensory processing disorders, and ADHD. Art Therapy can be used as a stand-alone treatment option and can also be implemented as a supportive adjunctive therapy in an overall treatment regime.

Art therapy may provide some of the following benefits:

• Emotional release

• Stress relief

• Increased self-esteem and self-awareness

• Increased mindfulness and relaxation

• Increased emotional regulation

• Provides a safe outlet for emotions

• Enhanced coping skills

• Enhanced cognitive skills

• Sensory integration

These are just some of the benefits that art therapy can provide to clients. To access clinical studies and read more in depth about the profession of Art Therapy you may visit www.arttherapy.org.

who can benefit from art therapy?

The answer is, everyone! Art Therapists operate from the principle that all people are innately creative. You do not need to be an artist or have a background in art in order to benefit immensely from art therapy.

Art Therapists work in a variety of settings, including nursing homes, hospice, medical settings, residential treatment centers, schools, and domestic violence shelters. People of all ages and backgrounds can experience healing from art therapy.

Art Therapy is highly beneficial for treating trauma, as it provides a safe outlet for clients to externalize and process complex emotions. Art making also provides and builds an internalized sense of control and emotional resiliency as clients are empowered to make choices and selections through their art-making.

Art Therapists work with clients to tailor their treatment approach based on the clients’ history, goals, and concerns. Art materials are carefully and intentionally selected in order to maximize the clients’ strengths and growth.

what happens in an art therapy session?

Art therapy sessions are tailored to the clients’ specific needs and treatment goals. In general, a session includes allocated time for art-making. Art materials are provided by the art therapist. The therapist may provide the client with a specific art task or may allow the art-making to be more open-ended, depending upon the clients’ age, maturity, and treatment goals. After the client has created art, the art therapist will help the client to process their art in order to promote insight and integration. Depending upon the client and their specific treatment goals, the therapist may provide the client with additional art tasks as ‘homework’ to continue to promote clarity and reinforcement after the session.

Art Therapy sessions generally last for one hour. Art Therapy can be offered in both individual and group formats.

art therapy with purandev kaur

I am a credentialed Art Therapist with the Art Therapy Credentials’ Board and received my Masters’ Degree in Art Therapy and Counseling from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2013. I was drawn to studying art therapy for several reasons: first, I witnessed in myself the healing power of creating art. While throwing clay on the wheel or painting a picture, I noticed how my thinking mind ‘switched off,’ allowing me to drop into a space of peace, mindfulness, and receptivity. I noticed how my self-esteem was enhanced after I learned to master a new artistic skill and created a work of art that I was proud of. Mostly, I noticed how I simply felt happier and more alive overall when I was creating art.

In graduate school, I interned in a variety of settings, including a residential treatment center, a domestic violence shelter, and an elementary school. I love working with all ages of people but am specifically drawn to working with children and adolescents. I am passionate about serving the younger population and I love witnessing how they find such sanctuary and self-expression through the creative process.

I am a true believer in the healing power of creativity because I have witnessed its profound impacts within my own life and healing process. I am humbled and honored to do this work, and I would love to be a part of you and your family’s journey.

Art Therapy Groups

Group art therapy provides many benefits to clients, including enhanced social skills, the opportunity to give and receive feedback, and a feeling of universality. I have experience offering a wide variety of groups for a broad range of populations, from patients with dementia to adolescents and young adults in an alternative high school.

Art Therapy groups generally include introductions and a check in, an art task and ample time for art-making, followed by optional time for sharing and feedback. If you are interested in learning more about how an art therapy group can benefit you or a particular population, please fill out the form below and I’ll be in touch with you shortly.

Location & contact

I am thrilled to offer individual Art Therapy sessions out of a practice called Stella Luna, located in Middleburg Heights. Stella Luna is a counseling and wellness center that offers clinical mental health counseling as well as a variety of wellness services, such as Reiki, massage, sound healing, and much more.

Stella Luna is located at 17951 Jefferson Park Road, suite 100. For more information about Stella Luna, please visit their website at www.stelllunatherapy.com.

To learn more about art therapy and whether it is the right fit for you or your child, or to inquire about an art therapy group, please fill out the form below and I will be in touch with you shortly!