MYTHS about Art Therapy

MYTH: Art therapists interpret the meaning of your artwork.
 

TRUTH:  Art therapists are specially trained to help the client explore his/her art to achieve a greater understanding and consider multiple meanings.

MYTH: You must have artistic talent to benefit from art therapy.
 

TRUTH: You need no prior experience nor do you need to feel that you have any talent.  Art therapists are specifically trained to help you engage in a range of creative activities including the verbal exploration of imagery.  Many find the addition of imagery to be helpful in addressing issues for which they have difficulty finding the right words.

MYTH: You can lose your creativity if you “work it all out” in therapy.
 

TRUTH: Therapy supports a greater sense of ownership and personal power in life.  Losing rigid, repetitive patterns help open up the creative space within to allow novel ideas, vivid images, and unique solutions for a richer creative life.

MYTH: Art therapy does not include talking.
 

TRUTH: Art therapists have backgrounds in both art and psychology. An art therapist with “ATR-BC” has a minimum of 1700 hours of client contact and 170 hours of clinical supervision.  We are trained as primary therapists to work with individuals and groups in verbal and non-verbal methods.

MYTH: Art therapy is for children or for people who can't communicate verbally.
 

TRUTH: Art therapists do work with children.  We also work with people of all ages.  We are found in private practices, schools, psychiatric settings, medical units, nursing homes, community centers, art studios, as well as in corporate and non-profit agencies as consultants and trainers. Art therapy is a powerful way of engaging many individuals in a broad range of settings and populations.