What is Art Therapy? How and Why did I Practice It?

Art Therapy is an effective treatment for the developmentally, medically, educationally, socially, or psychologically impaired person. It is practiced in a wide variety of settings, including mental health, rehabilitation, medical, educational and forensic institutions. Populations of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds are served by Art Therapists, in individual, couples, family and group therapy formats. I earned my Master of Arts in Art Therapy in 1994, at age 44, through College of Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont, California. My professional and teaching experiences, including art instruction, Art Therapy and art process with individuals and groups, span over three decades, going back to pre-masters practicums and internships, pre-1994. I worked in the field professionally until 2009, retiring from Napa State Hospital after twelve years. The forensic patient years included substance abuse art therapy treatment groups with confined developmentally disabled men; Art therapy with the homeless population in Napa (2016); individual therapeutic art with a woman with Parkinson’s disease; art therapy as a diagnostic and assessment tool with at-risk youth. I have been trained to see markers or clues in the art that may lead me to sense issues that rarely come out during normal conversations with a person. In other words, "a picture is worth a thousand words". The mere recognition of family or other issues, and expression of emotions that hinder personal progress can be achieved through a person’s work with an Art Therapist. Giving artistic expression to emotions, and then identifying what feelings a person may be experiencing in the moment, can be a valuable tool in helping to cope with difficult situations, as well as raise self-esteem. Working with artists under stress- using my artist and Art Therapist skills- would be something I would look forward to, with enthusiasm. Art empowers others, and me.