Art Therapy: activating creativity to reach a fuller potential
By: Julia Byrne, Art Therapist
M.A. A.Th., Art Ed
Practitioner at Hong Kong Psychological Services
President of The Hong Kong Association of Art Therapists
Art Therapy is a unique form of psychotherapy, where exposure to the art materials and the process of image-making supported by the art therapist, can enable the client to activate his/her creativity to help reach a fuller potential. Making visual images (painting, drawing, models etc) in the presence of a qualified art therapist contributes towards the externalization of thoughts and feelings, which may otherwise remain unexpressed.
Art Therapists work with families, adults and/or children of both general and special needs populations to address and work through emotional difficulties, depression, trauma, chronic illness, and grief/bereavement. It is also useful for those interested in personal growth and professional enhancement. Art Therapy can be especially effective for non-verbal clients, cognitively impaired and those who have built strong defense mechanism in the use of verbal communication. It is not necessary to have any previous experience in art making. Scribbles and marks are equally valued as complete detailed images. Therefore, art therapy is a viable tool for people to express themselves, and this visual form of communication can in fact 'reach beyond words' and get the root of the problem.
Making visual images (painting, drawing, models etc.) in the presence of a qualified art therapist contributes towards externalization of thoughts and feelings, which may otherwise remain unexpressed.
A child's painting made in art therapy expressing 'messy feelings' around the loss of a loved one. Anger and sadness were later described as the messy feelings within. Working through these feelings were an important part of the bereavement process so that the child could move beyond this stage.
What is unique to art therapy is the interactive/or interconnected dialogue that can occur between the client, the image, and the therapist. Through this three- way dialogue symbolism and other client material can be explored.
This interactive process can form a bridge between the individual's inner and outer world.
Containment and symbolism are multifaceted and central to the practice of art therapy. Other important elements are transference and counter-transference. Art therapists work with clients to establish healthy boundaries in their lives and move towards change. The process of art therapy can enable the client to activate his/her creativity to reach fuller potential.
Art media in arts therapies allow access to such inner experiences as thoughts, feelings and primitive energies etc, more readily than verbal techniques; and the arts can link to the unconscious world, from which a fuller understanding of the self can be gained.
Instead of being a passive recipient of treatment, a client in art therapy is envisioned as an artist creating his/her own self and life, and perceptions of self-in-the-world. The doing aspect of making art and engaging in personal reflection enables clients to engage in a 'doing process' in their life. In the art therapy process, doing and playing are both important elements for healing which lead to the client's capability of exploring and taking risks, and thus a life of growth and change.
For more information about art therapy you may contact Julia Byrne at:
Hong Kong Psychological Services Tel# 2810-1993 (Direct line 2810-1990)
Website: www.hkpscentral.com or
The Hong Kong Association of Art Therapists (HKAAT) Tel#2504-5625
Website: www.hk-hkaat.org
