The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. – Aristotle
Art has an essential place in psychotherapy. It provides expression for places within the self that are not yet known. If these places remain unconscious, they appear as struggle or staled maturity. A poem or story can give words and image to a range of emotions that could never be contacted in a linear way through problem solving.
The art therapist or a psychotherapist that includes art as part of the therapeutic process gives the patient the advantage of depth. He or she is providing a way to release pressure and find meaning that is very unconscious.
Almost all the children I have asked to pick the color that is anger have picked red, or to pick the color of sadness and they pick black. Then I ask them to paint or draw that feeling. This simple action can express more and release more for children than answering adult style questions. Sometimes words can be too complex and confusing for a child, especially with abuse, loss and trauma.
Many times with adults and children, I will suggest they draw or paint with their opposite hand, so the work will not be about good and bad technique. It gives the more primitive part of ourself a place to live in an overly sophisticated world.
Sometimes a therapist will help clients go from literal to symbolic. Art therapy can help patients go from symbolic to literal. It gives an image to talk about as we would talk about a dream. So many times the conversations that we have from a drawing, painting or dream would never happen in a typical therapy discussion.
When the imagination and spontaneity are part of the therapy the “inward significance” is found as Aristotle said. The art therapist provides methods to speak the unspeakable.
For more information:
How to become a therapist and receive an art therapy degree is described very well by the American Art Therapy Association: http://www.arttherapy.org This website provides information about master of arts degree, art therapy jobs, and the art therapist salary.
