What is Art Therapy?
Art therapists approach use paint and other materials. This to help people express and communicate their emotions and feelings. Through the medium of art people may be able to express directly from their subconscious. By doing so bring these unknown or suppressed feelings and emotions into their awareness. Art therapy provides a non-verbal way for people to express their emotions and feelings . Often people are heard to say ‘there are no words to describe…’. Art therapy can provide the invaluable means or expressing what is verbally inexpressible. The three-way relationship between the art therapist, the client and the creative work is central to the therapy.
History
Expressive art has been around for thousands of years, some schools of thought consider all art as intrinsically ‘therapeutic’. In the 1940’s the value of art as therapy was recognised and it began to be used in psychiatric hospitals. It was discovered that painting and other expressive activities enabled patients to articulate hidden or suppressed feelings. This allows art therapists and students to develop a beneficial and therapeutic relationship.

Approach
Art therapy is a type of expressive therapy. When people think of art therapy their first thoughts are usually painting. However, this approach also includes other areas of the arts, for example, drama, pottery and dancing. Art therapy can result in personal development and growth. This is by enabling people to express themselves creatively, giving them an opportunity to process what is going on for them and to move forward.
Traditional art therapy in particular has become a popular, well-established and effective technique. There are many different approaches to art therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, person-centred therapy and Gestalt.
How and who?
If you want to explore what is going on for you art therapy would be good. It is useful if you often find it hard to express yourself verbally. Art therapy may give you the means to express yourself and to grow and develop. Art therapy is in community settings, hospitals, prisons and education centres.