ART THERAPY: A PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO HEALING

Abstract

Art therapy is an established mental health profession that uses the creative process of art-making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. Psychologically it 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 behaviour, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight. Art therapy integrates the fields of human development, visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art forms), and the creative process with models of counselling and psychotherapy in this process. Art therapy is a specialized area of mental health that uses art materials and the creative process to explore emotion, reduce anxiety, increase self-esteem and resolve other psychological conflicts