Art Therapy Is More Than Just Making Nice Pictures
Originally published on the Huffington Post
Anyone who has ever put pen to paper, crayon to coloring book, or hand to wet clay knows the healing powers embedded in such creative endeavors. More than just a pastime, art can be an escape, a stimulus, a war cry or a tranquil reprieve. Art therapy, defined as "a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of communication," revolves around this principal of art's immense power.
Open to children and adults of any background and experience, the still-evolving field explores modes of expression, understanding and healing that occur when paint touches canvas. While too many schools today run under the assumption that art is extraneous, a diversion from traditional academic subjects, art therapists know better. They know that art has the potential to change lives, and, even to save them.
This is an excerpt of the 3rd in a series about Art Therapy from the Huffington Post arts and health writer, Priscilla Frank. Read the full article here:
