It has been a lifelong dream of mine to integrate arts with mental health, seeing as how transformative the power of arts can be towards the path of healing. I have several years of experience in facilitating different therapeutic art activities and workshops for schools and organizations. I also practice art therapy in my current work and practice as a psychosocial support specialist and counselor if my service users and clients are inclined to reach their goals through an expressive art medium of their choice.
What is the difference between Art Therapy and Therapeutic Art?
Art therapy is a therapy session facilitated by a mental health service provider (e.g., psychologist, counselor, etc.) who may be trained in different expressive art mediums and encourage their clients or service users to reach their emotional, creative, and spiritual goals through different kinds of art-based exercises.
Art therapy may be adjunct and integrated into other mental health interventions. The creative output invites the client or service user to examine their thoughts, emotions, and even body sensations throughout the creative process.
A Therapeutic art activity is not therapy. The goals of therapeutic art activities may include learning more about the art medium, practicing, and even experimenting with it. Engaging in therapeutic art activities may bring stress relief to the individual, hence being called therapeutic. These activities can be facilitated by anyone who has experience using the art medium of their choice but does not necessarily have to be a trained therapist.
For me in particular, I have more inclination and experience towards the visual arts (e.g., drawing, illustrating, painting, scrapbooking, collaging, etc.). :)
Despite the differences, engaging in therapeutic art activities and art therapy may help us manage stress levels, become more in tune with our emotions, and stay present throughout the whole process.
You can directly reach out to me if you want to explore doing different kinds of therapeutic art activities with me or even art therapy. You may read more about one of my first advocacies about promoting mental health awareness through the arts here.