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What is Clinical Art Therapy?
Through painting, drawing, sculpture and other forms of creative expression, art making is highly effective in helping to recognize and convey underlying emotions and patterns of thought, offering a non-verbal outlet for self-expression.
It is the process of art making, rather than the product, that
is the focus of the treatment, and is, at times, healing in and
of itself.
Art therapy does not require artistic ability, and is
appropriate for all ages.
Diagnosis
Artwork can convey emotional and/or behavioral issues that may
otherwise not be directly expressed. Repeated patterns of images
over time often suggest meaningful concerns.
Interpreting artwork is done with extreme caution and
sensitivity, with focus placed on the insights and comments made
by the individual who created the piece.
Applications
Avoiding strong feelings can intensify stress, which can lead to a variety of symptoms and behaviors.
Creating artwork allows a release of pent up emotions and
offers a gratifying sense of accomplishment.
Recent studies reveal how the act of creating art affects brain
wave patterns and chemicals released by the brain.
Art Therapy & EMDR
Artwork provides a concrete, visual image that is utilized when
reprocessing experiences with the bilateral stimulation of EMDR
Therapy. Children, in particular, respond positively to the
combination of the two.