Expressive Arts
Expressive Arts
What is expressive arts therapy?
Expressive arts therapy is a form of therapy that uses
dance, drama, music, poetry, and art to enhance one’s overall well-being. The
arts are used to let go, express, and to release. Expressive Arts Therapies,
also known as Arts Therapy, Creative Arts Therapy and Expressive Therapy, are
used in a therapeutic, rehabilitative, educational, and community setting to
foster holistic health, communication, and expression (National Coalition of
Creative Arts Therapies Associations, 2010).
People have been using the arts as tools for healing for many centuries. In the
early 1940’s Expressive Arts Therapy became formally recognized and has since
provided meaningful therapeutic experiences for people of all ages in a variety
of treatment settings. There is no right or wrong way in the arts which
encourages the clients to be free with self-expression. Expressive Arts Therapy
is not about interpreting color or images, and is not necessarily used for
diagnosis, although it can help assess an individual’s needs or progress. The
focus is on the process of making art and exploring what the piece means to the
individual, not on the aesthetic outcome (American Art Therapy Association,
2010).
Through the arts, people can communicate ideas and feelings that may be hard to
put into words, such as negative memories, anger, stress, and other personal
experiences. It has been shown that use of the arts can aide in emotional
conflicts, self-awareness, developing social skills, managing behavior,
reducing anxiety, and increasing self-esteem. A free form of expression gives
the client pride in their own work by reducing the need to compare themselves
to others, an unfortunate problem seen today. Arts Therapy does not require
artistic ability or previous experience (National Coalition of Creative Arts
Therapies Associations, 2010).
Natalie Rogers, an Expressive Art Therapist, says “our feelings and emotions
are an energy source. That energy can be channeled into the expressive arts to
be released and transformed. The creative connection is a process that brings
us to our inner core or essence which is our life energy (Creation
Spirituality, 1993).”
How did expressive arts therapy begin?
Expressive Arts Therapy became an established profession in the 1940s when psychologists became interested in drawings made by their patients with mental illnesses. They discovered that certain developmental, cognitive, and emotional insights could be gathered from the drawings. Arts Therapy began to be integrated with traditional verbal therapy to enhance recovery. Since that time, Arts Therapy has grown extensively both in connection with and independent of traditional verbal therapy (Expressive Media Inc., n.d.).
What types of training do expressive arts therapists have?
Expressive Arts therapists are professionally trained to
provide clients with the best and most appropriate creative techniques and
interventions. Anyone can be an expressive art therapist provided that they
undergo the appropriate training. Knowledge in psychology is basic to all
training, but from there training typically includes getting a masters degree
in counseling with specialized instruction in implementing the art, music,
poetry, and dance/movement therapeutically. Some professionals extend their
education and obtain a PhD in expressive therapy, but there are only a few
doctoral level programs. Each therapist must follow a code of ethics and
standards of clinical practice and are encouraged to obtain a mental health
counseling license from the state they reside in (Lesley University, 2010).
Although expressive arts therapy is unique, the clinical goal is similar to
other mental health professions. This goal is to facilitate the client’s growth
and positive change. Expressive arts strive to integrate their clients
physical, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning to enhance their
self-awareness.
Is there a such thing as Music Therapy, Dance Therapy or Drama Therapy?
Yes, these are included under the umbrella term Expressive Arts Therapy however each is unique in its own way! Some therapists choose to specialize in just one area, so there are people out there with the titles of Dance Therapist, Music Therapist, Art Therapist and Drama Therapist.
Visit each discipline’s official website to read more about their specialty:
American Dance Therapy Association
American Music Therapy Association
American Art Therapy Association
National Association for Drama Therapy
Does Health Services offer expressive arts therapy?
Yes! The Office of Health Education and Promotion currently
has a trained expressive art therapist and other counseling and educational
professionals, with creative arts backgrounds, to help students learn to manage
their stress and receive support for a variety of issues. In addition,
there are student-run programs that take place on campus yearly.
Starting in fall 2010, students can pick up their own coloring therapy kit.
This kit will include a mandala, crayons, and brief summary of what Expressive
Arts Therapy is and the benefits.
To learn more about expressive art therapy or to make an appointment contact,
call (603) 862-3823 or
visit Health Services, Room 249 (second floor).
Want to learn more about expressive art therapy?
Each year, creative art therapists sponsor workshops,
exhibitions, and career events to share their work with the pubic and promote
awareness about creative arts internationally.
The following websites have up to date information about expressive art therapy
including hot topics, national organizations, professional training, and work
from therapists themselves.
International Expressive
Arts Therapy Association
National Coalition of
Creative Arts Therapies Associations
Lesley University:
Expressive Therapies Division
The Society for the Arts in Healthcare
Sources:
Expressive Media Inc. (n.d). Art therapy information. Link...
Lesley University. (2010). Expressive therapies. Link...
Malchiodi, C. (2009). About art therapy. Link...
National Association for Drama Therapy. (2010). FAQ about drama
therapy. Link...
National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations. (2010). NCCATA
home. Link...
Rogers, N. (1993). Spiritual Connection. Expressive Arts Therapy. 28-30.
