What is Art Therapy?
The use of drawings, clay, charcoal, paint and other traditional art materials
have always been used by people to communicate with themselves and others
regarding their thoughts and feelings about certain life events. Subsequently in
the early 1940's, the integration of art into counselling and psychology became
more evident first in hospitals, and later on, in out-patient settings,
rehabilitation clinics, schools and counselling centers.
However, unlike the commercial art world
(museums, auctions, art galleries), art therapy is not about completing a
masterpiece that critics will praise and consumers will purchase. Instead, art
therapy focuses on the "creating" processes during counselling, allowing both
assessment and growth to occur in each session. Concurrently, the artwork after
each session becomes a reflective tool to better understand patterns of feeling,
behaviors and thoughts that block happiness and growth.
Furthermore, art therapy is an effective
counselling process for children, teens and adults who lack confidence or social
skills in communicating verbally as well as those clients who over-verbalize and
thus block their feelings from being expressed.
Overall, art therapy is a very effective
counselling technique that has been shown to enhance the therapeutic
relationship between the patient and therapist in a safe and non-threatening
environment, thus allowing the client to identify the blocks to personal growth
and happiness.
Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his
own nature into his pictures.
Henry Ward Beecher
Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.
Twyla Tharp
The object of art is to give life a shape.
William Shakespeare
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Art Therapy at SJCS
Art therapy at SJCS is available for children,
teens and adults by three qualified art therapists as well as one counselling
psychologists and one clinical social worker who utilize art materials in
counselling. Art therapy and the use of traditional art materials in counselling
are used to:
1. Self-discovery:
art therapy can trigger both an emotional catharsis and a greater sense of
cognitive awareness with a person's thoughts, feelings and behavioral patterns
that have blocked developmental growth in children and teens, and psychosocial
growth in adults;
2. Personal Fulfillment:
arising from the creative and analytical aspects of art therapy, clients can
further develop their self-esteem and self-worth personality elements to build
their confidence and sense of direction in life (school, family or work);
3. Empowerment: art
therapy can assist people in visualizing their emotions and thoughts that
sometimes they cannot express verbally, eventually allowing clients to gain a
sense of self-control over emotions and thoughts they once were afraid of;
4. Relaxation-stress relief:
when used alone and/or with other forms of healthcare practices, art therapy can
help reduce certain types of acute and chronic stress;
5. Creativity and
Imagination: art therapy can assist people in unleashing certain
blockages and other obstacles that hinder the creative element that is in all
our personalities. Some of us are more creative in painting, some in public
speaking, still others in creative writing, or other skill areas such as acting,
teaching, marketing, research and problem solving;
6. Personal healing:
stress disorders, traumatic events, and cognitive disorientations have also been
effectively treated with art therapy, especially those children and teens who
have experienced traumatic events in their growing-up years.
For further information, please contact us at
info@sjcshk.com.
All inquiries are confidential and we are a children-teenager friendly counselling
centre. 
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Fast Facts on Art Therapy
1. Do art therapists undergo the same professional training and licensing as
other mental health professionals?
Yes, most countries such as the U.S., U.K., Australia and other countries
usually require a master's degree, internship, examinations, clinical
supervision, and ongoing continuing education.
2. I've never been good at anything in art,
drawing, painting or even taking pictures. Is art therapy still appropriate for
me?
You are not required to be "gifted" or "talented"
in any form of art to receive the numerous therapeutic benefits from art
therapy. What is required is a motivation and genuine desire to better
understand your challenges and opportunities in life through art materials in
counselling.
3. Who else has used art therapy besides art
therapy and found it effective?
An early pioneer
with art therapy was the Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung who used paintings and
modeling to help his patients express their inner-feelings and thoughts. Other
therapists have included Natalie Rogers (daughter of Carl Rogers), French
psychiatrist Ambrose Tardieu, Edward Adamson of the British Red Cross after
WWII, American Charles Menninger and many others.
4. Is art therapy expensive since we have to use art supplies?
At St. John's Counselling Service, our art therapy services are provided on a
sliding fee scale to make the counselling affordable in order that our clients
can carry-on in counselling without worrying about running out of money. Art
therapy is not charged any differently than regular counselling!
5. Can art therapy be done in Chinese as well as in English?
Yes, we have both English and Chinese speaking art therapy professionals at
SJCS.
6. Is art therapy for all ages and occupation groups?
Yes, art therapy is effective for children, teenagers and adults from almost all
walks of life.
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