What Is Art Therapy?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesTechniquesUsesBenefitsEffectivenessThings to ConsiderHow to Get Started

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Types

Techniques

Uses

Benefits

Effectiveness

Things to Consider

How to Get Started

Close

The use of artistic methods to treatpsychological disordersand enhance mental health is known as art therapy. Art therapy is a technique rooted in the idea that creative expression can foster healing and mental well-being.

People have been relying on the arts for communication, self-expression, and healing for thousands of years. But art therapy didn’t start to become a formal program until the 1940s.

Doctors noted that individuals living with mental illness often expressed themselves in drawings and other artworks, which led many to explore the use of art as a healing strategy.Since then, art has become an important part of the therapeutic field and is used in some assessment and treatment techniques.

Types of Creative Therapies

Art therapy is not the only type of creative art used in the treatment of mental illness. Other types of creative therapies include:

The goal of art therapy is to utilize the creative process to help people explore self-expression and, in doing so, find new ways to gain personal insight and develop new coping skills.

The creation or appreciation of art is used to help people explore emotions, develop self-awareness, cope with stress, boost self-esteem, and work on social skills.

Techniques used in art therapy can include:

As clients create art, they may analyze what they have made and how it makes them feel. Through exploring their art, people can look for themes and conflicts that may be affecting their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

What Art Therapy Can Help With

Art therapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental disorders andpsychological distress. In many cases, it might be used in conjunction with otherpsychotherapytechniques such asgroup therapyorcognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

We Tried 100+ Therapy Services and Apps—And These Are the 8 Best for Online CBT

Some conditions that art therapy may be used to treat include:

The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and Tested

Benefits of Art Therapy

According to a 2016 study published in theJournal of the American Art Therapy Association,less than an hour of creative activity can reduce your stress and have a positive effect on your mental health, regardless of artistic experience or talent.

An art therapist may use a variety of art methods, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and collage with clients ranging from young children to older adults.

Clients who have experienced emotional trauma, physical violence, domestic abuse, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues can benefit from expressing themselves creatively.

Some situations in which art therapy might be utilized include:

While research suggests that art therapy may be beneficial, some of the findings on its effectiveness are mixed. Studies are often small and inconclusive, so further research is needed to explore how and when art therapy may be most beneficial.

If you or someone you love is thinking about art therapy, there are some common misconceptions and facts you should know.

You Don’t Have to Be Artistic

People do not need to have artistic ability or special talent to participate in art therapy, and people of all ages including children,teens, and adults can benefit from it. Some research suggests that just the presence of art can play a part in boosting mental health.

A 2017 study found that art displayed in hospital settings contributed to an environment where patients felt safe. It also played a role in improving socialization and maintaining an identity outside of the hospital.

It’s Not the Same as an Art Class

People often wonder how an art therapy session differs from an art class. Where an art class is focused on teaching technique or creating a specific finished product, art therapy is more about letting clients focus on their inner experience.

In creating art, people are able to explore their own perceptions, imagination, and feelings. Clients are encouraged to create art that expresses their inner world more than making something that is an expression of the outer world.

Art Therapy Can Take Place in a Variety of Settings

Inpatient offices, private mental health offices, schools, and community organizations are all possible settings for art therapy services. Additionally, art therapy may be available in other settings, such as:

If specialized media or equipment is required, however, finding a suitable setting may become challenging.

Art Therapy Is Not for Everyone

Art therapy isn’t for everyone. While high levels of creativity or artistic ability aren’t necessary for art therapy to be successful,many adults who believe they are not creative or artistic might be resistant or skeptical of the process.

In addition, art therapy has not been found effective for all types of mental health conditions. For example, one meta-analysis found that art therapy is not effective in reducing positive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

If you think you or someone you love would benefit from art therapy, consider the following steps:

Becoming an Art Therapist

In the United States, theArt Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. (ATCB)offers credentialing programs that allow art therapists to become registered, board-certified, or licensed depending upon the state in which they live and work.

According to the American Art Therapy Association, the minimum requirements are:

Additional post-graduate supervised experience is also required. You can learn more about the training and educational requirements to become an art therapist on theAATA website.

20 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Van Lith T.Art therapy in mental health: A systematic review of approaches and practices.The Arts in Psychotherapy. 2016;47:9-22. doi:10.1016/j.aip.2015.09.003Junge MB.History of Art Therapy.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. Published online November 6, 2015:7-16. doi:10.1002/9781118306543.ch1Farokhi M.Art therapy in humanistic psychiatry.Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2011;30:2088-2092. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.406Haen C, Nancy Boyd Webb.Creative Arts-Based Group Therapy with Adolescents: Theory and Practice. 1st ed. (Haen C, Webb NB, eds.). Routledge; 2019. doi:10.4324/9780203702000Schouten KA, de Niet GJ, Knipscheer JW, Kleber RJ, Hutschemaekers GJM.The effectiveness of art therapy in the treatment of traumatized adults.Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 2014;16(2):220-228. doi:10.1177/1524838014555032Gall DJ, Jordan Z, Stern C.Effectiveness and meaningfulness of art therapy as a tool for healthy aging: a comprehensive systematic review protocol.JBI Evidence Synthesis. 2015;13(3):3-17. doi:10.11124/jbisrir-2015-1840Lefèvre C, Ledoux M, Filbet M.Art therapy among palliative cancer patients: Aesthetic dimensions and impacts on symptoms.Palliative and Supportive Care. 2015;14(4):376-380. doi:10.1017/s1478951515001017Hunter M.Art therapy and eating disorders. In: Gussak DE, Rosal ML, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015:387-396. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118306543.ch37Schmanke L.Art therapy and substance abuse.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. Published online November 6, 2015:361-374. doi:10.1002/9781118306543.ch35Kaimal G, Ray K, Muniz J.Reduction of cortisol levels and participants’ responses following art making.Art Therapy. 2016;33(2):74-80. doi:10.1080/07421656.2016.1166832Gussak DE, Rosal ML, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. 1st ed. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015. doi:10.1002/9781118306543Regev D, Cohen-Yatziv L.Effectiveness of art therapy with adult clients in 2018—what progress has been made?Front Psychol. 2018;9. doi:10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2018.01531Regev D, Cohen-Yatziv L.Effectiveness of art therapy with adult clients in 2018—what progress has been made?.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1531. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01531Ching-Teng Y, Ya-Ping Y, Yu-Chia C.Positive effects of art therapy on depression and self-esteem of older adults in nursing homes.Social Work in Health Care. 2019;58(3):324-338. doi:10.1080/00981389.2018.1564108Nielsen SL, Fich LB, Roessler KK, Mullins MF.How do patients actually experience and use art in hospitals? The significance of interaction: a user-oriented experimental case study.International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 2017;12(1):1267343. doi:10.1080/17482631.2016.1267343Gussak DE.Art therapy in the prison milieu. In: Gussak DE, Rosal ML, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015:478-486. doi:10.1002/9781118306543.ch46Stuckey HL, Nobel J.The connection between art, healing, and public health: A review of current literature.Am J Public Health. 2010;100(2):254-63. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.156497Bird J.Art therapy, arts-based research and transitional stories of domestic violence and abuse.International Journal of Art Therapy. 2018;23(1):14-24.  doi:10.1080/17454832.2017.1317004Laws KR, Conway W.Do adjunctive art therapies reduce symptomatology in schizophrenia? A meta-analysis.WJP. 2019;9(8):107-120. doi:10.5498/wjp.v9.i8.107About The Credentials| Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. ATCB. https://www.atcb.org/about-the-credentials/Additional ReadingBureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018: 29-1125 Recreational Therapists.Nielsen SL, Fich LB, Roessler KK, Mullins MF.How do patients actually experience and use art in hospitals? The significance of interaction: a user-oriented experimental case study.Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2017;12(1):1267343. doi:10.1080/17482631.2016.1267343

20 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Van Lith T.Art therapy in mental health: A systematic review of approaches and practices.The Arts in Psychotherapy. 2016;47:9-22. doi:10.1016/j.aip.2015.09.003Junge MB.History of Art Therapy.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. Published online November 6, 2015:7-16. doi:10.1002/9781118306543.ch1Farokhi M.Art therapy in humanistic psychiatry.Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2011;30:2088-2092. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.406Haen C, Nancy Boyd Webb.Creative Arts-Based Group Therapy with Adolescents: Theory and Practice. 1st ed. (Haen C, Webb NB, eds.). Routledge; 2019. doi:10.4324/9780203702000Schouten KA, de Niet GJ, Knipscheer JW, Kleber RJ, Hutschemaekers GJM.The effectiveness of art therapy in the treatment of traumatized adults.Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 2014;16(2):220-228. doi:10.1177/1524838014555032Gall DJ, Jordan Z, Stern C.Effectiveness and meaningfulness of art therapy as a tool for healthy aging: a comprehensive systematic review protocol.JBI Evidence Synthesis. 2015;13(3):3-17. doi:10.11124/jbisrir-2015-1840Lefèvre C, Ledoux M, Filbet M.Art therapy among palliative cancer patients: Aesthetic dimensions and impacts on symptoms.Palliative and Supportive Care. 2015;14(4):376-380. doi:10.1017/s1478951515001017Hunter M.Art therapy and eating disorders. In: Gussak DE, Rosal ML, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015:387-396. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118306543.ch37Schmanke L.Art therapy and substance abuse.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. Published online November 6, 2015:361-374. doi:10.1002/9781118306543.ch35Kaimal G, Ray K, Muniz J.Reduction of cortisol levels and participants’ responses following art making.Art Therapy. 2016;33(2):74-80. doi:10.1080/07421656.2016.1166832Gussak DE, Rosal ML, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. 1st ed. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015. doi:10.1002/9781118306543Regev D, Cohen-Yatziv L.Effectiveness of art therapy with adult clients in 2018—what progress has been made?Front Psychol. 2018;9. doi:10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2018.01531Regev D, Cohen-Yatziv L.Effectiveness of art therapy with adult clients in 2018—what progress has been made?.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1531. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01531Ching-Teng Y, Ya-Ping Y, Yu-Chia C.Positive effects of art therapy on depression and self-esteem of older adults in nursing homes.Social Work in Health Care. 2019;58(3):324-338. doi:10.1080/00981389.2018.1564108Nielsen SL, Fich LB, Roessler KK, Mullins MF.How do patients actually experience and use art in hospitals? The significance of interaction: a user-oriented experimental case study.International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 2017;12(1):1267343. doi:10.1080/17482631.2016.1267343Gussak DE.Art therapy in the prison milieu. In: Gussak DE, Rosal ML, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015:478-486. doi:10.1002/9781118306543.ch46Stuckey HL, Nobel J.The connection between art, healing, and public health: A review of current literature.Am J Public Health. 2010;100(2):254-63. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.156497Bird J.Art therapy, arts-based research and transitional stories of domestic violence and abuse.International Journal of Art Therapy. 2018;23(1):14-24.  doi:10.1080/17454832.2017.1317004Laws KR, Conway W.Do adjunctive art therapies reduce symptomatology in schizophrenia? A meta-analysis.WJP. 2019;9(8):107-120. doi:10.5498/wjp.v9.i8.107About The Credentials| Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. ATCB. https://www.atcb.org/about-the-credentials/Additional ReadingBureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018: 29-1125 Recreational Therapists.Nielsen SL, Fich LB, Roessler KK, Mullins MF.How do patients actually experience and use art in hospitals? The significance of interaction: a user-oriented experimental case study.Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2017;12(1):1267343. doi:10.1080/17482631.2016.1267343

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Van Lith T.Art therapy in mental health: A systematic review of approaches and practices.The Arts in Psychotherapy. 2016;47:9-22. doi:10.1016/j.aip.2015.09.003Junge MB.History of Art Therapy.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. Published online November 6, 2015:7-16. doi:10.1002/9781118306543.ch1Farokhi M.Art therapy in humanistic psychiatry.Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2011;30:2088-2092. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.406Haen C, Nancy Boyd Webb.Creative Arts-Based Group Therapy with Adolescents: Theory and Practice. 1st ed. (Haen C, Webb NB, eds.). Routledge; 2019. doi:10.4324/9780203702000Schouten KA, de Niet GJ, Knipscheer JW, Kleber RJ, Hutschemaekers GJM.The effectiveness of art therapy in the treatment of traumatized adults.Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 2014;16(2):220-228. doi:10.1177/1524838014555032Gall DJ, Jordan Z, Stern C.Effectiveness and meaningfulness of art therapy as a tool for healthy aging: a comprehensive systematic review protocol.JBI Evidence Synthesis. 2015;13(3):3-17. doi:10.11124/jbisrir-2015-1840Lefèvre C, Ledoux M, Filbet M.Art therapy among palliative cancer patients: Aesthetic dimensions and impacts on symptoms.Palliative and Supportive Care. 2015;14(4):376-380. doi:10.1017/s1478951515001017Hunter M.Art therapy and eating disorders. In: Gussak DE, Rosal ML, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015:387-396. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118306543.ch37Schmanke L.Art therapy and substance abuse.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. Published online November 6, 2015:361-374. doi:10.1002/9781118306543.ch35Kaimal G, Ray K, Muniz J.Reduction of cortisol levels and participants’ responses following art making.Art Therapy. 2016;33(2):74-80. doi:10.1080/07421656.2016.1166832Gussak DE, Rosal ML, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. 1st ed. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015. doi:10.1002/9781118306543Regev D, Cohen-Yatziv L.Effectiveness of art therapy with adult clients in 2018—what progress has been made?Front Psychol. 2018;9. doi:10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2018.01531Regev D, Cohen-Yatziv L.Effectiveness of art therapy with adult clients in 2018—what progress has been made?.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1531. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01531Ching-Teng Y, Ya-Ping Y, Yu-Chia C.Positive effects of art therapy on depression and self-esteem of older adults in nursing homes.Social Work in Health Care. 2019;58(3):324-338. doi:10.1080/00981389.2018.1564108Nielsen SL, Fich LB, Roessler KK, Mullins MF.How do patients actually experience and use art in hospitals? The significance of interaction: a user-oriented experimental case study.International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 2017;12(1):1267343. doi:10.1080/17482631.2016.1267343Gussak DE.Art therapy in the prison milieu. In: Gussak DE, Rosal ML, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015:478-486. doi:10.1002/9781118306543.ch46Stuckey HL, Nobel J.The connection between art, healing, and public health: A review of current literature.Am J Public Health. 2010;100(2):254-63. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.156497Bird J.Art therapy, arts-based research and transitional stories of domestic violence and abuse.International Journal of Art Therapy. 2018;23(1):14-24.  doi:10.1080/17454832.2017.1317004Laws KR, Conway W.Do adjunctive art therapies reduce symptomatology in schizophrenia? A meta-analysis.WJP. 2019;9(8):107-120. doi:10.5498/wjp.v9.i8.107About The Credentials| Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. ATCB. https://www.atcb.org/about-the-credentials/

Van Lith T.Art therapy in mental health: A systematic review of approaches and practices.The Arts in Psychotherapy. 2016;47:9-22. doi:10.1016/j.aip.2015.09.003

Junge MB.History of Art Therapy.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. Published online November 6, 2015:7-16. doi:10.1002/9781118306543.ch1

Farokhi M.Art therapy in humanistic psychiatry.Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2011;30:2088-2092. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.406

Haen C, Nancy Boyd Webb.Creative Arts-Based Group Therapy with Adolescents: Theory and Practice. 1st ed. (Haen C, Webb NB, eds.). Routledge; 2019. doi:10.4324/9780203702000

Schouten KA, de Niet GJ, Knipscheer JW, Kleber RJ, Hutschemaekers GJM.The effectiveness of art therapy in the treatment of traumatized adults.Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 2014;16(2):220-228. doi:10.1177/1524838014555032

Gall DJ, Jordan Z, Stern C.Effectiveness and meaningfulness of art therapy as a tool for healthy aging: a comprehensive systematic review protocol.JBI Evidence Synthesis. 2015;13(3):3-17. doi:10.11124/jbisrir-2015-1840

Lefèvre C, Ledoux M, Filbet M.Art therapy among palliative cancer patients: Aesthetic dimensions and impacts on symptoms.Palliative and Supportive Care. 2015;14(4):376-380. doi:10.1017/s1478951515001017

Hunter M.Art therapy and eating disorders. In: Gussak DE, Rosal ML, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015:387-396. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118306543.ch37

Schmanke L.Art therapy and substance abuse.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. Published online November 6, 2015:361-374. doi:10.1002/9781118306543.ch35

Kaimal G, Ray K, Muniz J.Reduction of cortisol levels and participants’ responses following art making.Art Therapy. 2016;33(2):74-80. doi:10.1080/07421656.2016.1166832

Gussak DE, Rosal ML, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. 1st ed. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015. doi:10.1002/9781118306543

Regev D, Cohen-Yatziv L.Effectiveness of art therapy with adult clients in 2018—what progress has been made?Front Psychol. 2018;9. doi:10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2018.01531

Regev D, Cohen-Yatziv L.Effectiveness of art therapy with adult clients in 2018—what progress has been made?.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1531. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01531

Ching-Teng Y, Ya-Ping Y, Yu-Chia C.Positive effects of art therapy on depression and self-esteem of older adults in nursing homes.Social Work in Health Care. 2019;58(3):324-338. doi:10.1080/00981389.2018.1564108

Nielsen SL, Fich LB, Roessler KK, Mullins MF.How do patients actually experience and use art in hospitals? The significance of interaction: a user-oriented experimental case study.International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 2017;12(1):1267343. doi:10.1080/17482631.2016.1267343

Gussak DE.Art therapy in the prison milieu. In: Gussak DE, Rosal ML, eds.The Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015:478-486. doi:10.1002/9781118306543.ch46

Stuckey HL, Nobel J.The connection between art, healing, and public health: A review of current literature.Am J Public Health. 2010;100(2):254-63. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.156497

Bird J.Art therapy, arts-based research and transitional stories of domestic violence and abuse.International Journal of Art Therapy. 2018;23(1):14-24.  doi:10.1080/17454832.2017.1317004

Laws KR, Conway W.Do adjunctive art therapies reduce symptomatology in schizophrenia? A meta-analysis.WJP. 2019;9(8):107-120. doi:10.5498/wjp.v9.i8.107

About The Credentials| Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. ATCB. https://www.atcb.org/about-the-credentials/

Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018: 29-1125 Recreational Therapists.Nielsen SL, Fich LB, Roessler KK, Mullins MF.How do patients actually experience and use art in hospitals? The significance of interaction: a user-oriented experimental case study.Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2017;12(1):1267343. doi:10.1080/17482631.2016.1267343

Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018: 29-1125 Recreational Therapists.

Nielsen SL, Fich LB, Roessler KK, Mullins MF.How do patients actually experience and use art in hospitals? The significance of interaction: a user-oriented experimental case study.Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2017;12(1):1267343. doi:10.1080/17482631.2016.1267343

Hannah Owens, LMSW

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?