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What Is Expressive Arts Therapy?

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Rachel Goldman, PhD FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, wellness expert specializing in eating behaviors, stress management, and health behavior change.

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People who are experiencing mental health issues may have a difficult time interpreting or describing how they are feeling. Through expressive arts therapy, they can learn more about themselves and share what they are feeling in a therapeutic context.

If you're considering this therapy or it has been recommended to you, it's helpful to understand the types available and how it can help. Keep reading to also learn what research says about expressive arts therapy's effectiveness, along with things to consider when determining if it is the right therapy for you .

Types of Expressive Arts Therapy

The International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) explains that expressive arts therapy is a multimodal approach, combining several expressive arts—movement, writing, music, and more—"to foster deep personal growth and community development." As a multimodal therapy, it draws on a few different types of single-modal approaches.

Four types of creative arts often used in expressive arts therapy include:

• Art therapy : This approach involves utilizing visual arts such as drawing, painting, and sculpting to work through emotions, thoughts, or experiences. 
• Dance therapy : This type of therapy uses physical movement and dance to help people cope with mental health symptoms such as anxiety, stress, and depression.
• Music therapy : This approach utilizes listening to or creating music to help improve mood and ease anxiety. 
• Writing therapy : This form of therapy involves exploring thoughts and emotions through writing approaches such as journaling or creating poems or fictional stories. 

While each of these therapeutic modalities can be used on its own, expressive arts therapy is an integration of several approaches together, sometimes in the same session. It can also be incorporated into other therapy methods and integrates well with several approaches.

By drawing on different modalities and integrating them in ways that are beneficial to each individual’s needs, this approach to treatment can create unique experiences that allow people to better understand their emotions, thoughts, memories, and experiences.

Expressive Arts Therapy Techniques

This type of therapy focuses on the creative process. So, expressive arts therapists may draw on a wide variety of techniques to create a treatment best suited to the individual's needs. Such techniques can include:

• Creating sculptures, collages, or memory books
• Dancing or other forms of movement
• Drama or improvisation
• Journal writing , or reading or writing poems, stories, or songs
• Listening to or creating music
• Painting, drawing, or sketching

In addition to utilizing the healing properties of self-expression through art, professionals trained in expressive arts therapy also incorporate other types of therapy into their client sessions. They might pull techniques from psychodynamic therapy , cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) , and mindfulness-based approaches.

What Expressive Arts Therapy Can Help With

Expressive arts therapy can be used with both adults and children and may be beneficial for several different mental health conditions. Some conditions or concerns it can help with include:

• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Bereavement or grief
• Brain injuries
• Chronic medical conditions
• Developmental disorders
• Eating disorders
• Emotional issues
• Interpersonal issues
• Low self-esteem
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Expressive arts therapy can also help hospitalized children deal with the stress associated with their hospitalization.

Benefits of Expressive Arts Therapy

The use of the expressive arts can augment talk therapy by allowing people to use strategies that work best for them. For some people, talking about their experiences may be the preferred form of self-exploration. Others, however, might benefit more from activities such as drawing a picture or writing in a journal. 

The IEATA shares that expressive arts therapy can help people improve creativity , gain clarity, and achieve deep healing. Plus, many art activities are suitable for a wide variety of individuals and can often be employed in any setting with only minimal supplies. 

One review found that expressive arts therapy has been used in a wide range of contexts. It has been implemented in community centers, as well as with people who are homeless, immigrants, cancer patients, patients in dementia care, and patients in hospice care.

Expressive Arts Therapy Effectiveness

Several pieces of research suggest that expressive arts therapy is effective in a variety of ways.

• A 2021 review concluded that this approach helped improve collaboration between patients, their families, and healthcare professionals in adult health and nursing care.
• A 2019 study found that art therapy was linked to improved cognitive functioning in elderly adults with mild neurocognitive disorders.
• A 2016 review reported that hospitalized children were calmer and seemed less stressed after expressive arts therapy sessions, also experiencing improvements in mood.

More generally, art-making has been found to have several positive mental health effects. For instance, a 2020 study found that engaging in a coloring activity helped reduce anxiety and improve mood in older adults.

If You're Considering Expressive Arts Therapy

If you are thinking about trying expressive arts therapy, you don't have to have training or experience in the activity you're doing. You also don't have to be good at that art form. This therapy is not about what you are creating; it is the process of creating that matters.

Expressive arts therapy isn’t the same as taking an art class. Your focus isn’t on learning artistic techniques but on the inner emotional experience as you engage in the artistic process, either in a receptive (such as listening to music) or creative (such as making art) manner.

Authors of one review state, "One does not need to be an artist or have any special skills to express oneself through art-making; the most important thing is an open attitude to creativity in everyday life. This allows one to give oneself and others a chance to interact with and be touched by art and to vary the pattern of everyday life."

That said, expressive arts therapy isn’t right for everyone. For example, it might not be a good fit for people who are skeptical or unwilling to participate in the creative experience. It may also not be appropriate for individuals with certain psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia.

Getting Started With Expressive Arts Therapy

If you are interested in trying expressive arts therapy, here's how to get started:

• First, find a therapist : Your first step is to find a therapist with training and experience in the expressive arts. You could ask your care provider for a referral or use an online therapist directory to find a local professional.
• Check with your insurance : Check with your insurance provider to see if your policy will cover the treatment and, if it does, to what extent. This treatment is more likely to be covered by insurance if provided by a certified psychologist or psychiatrist.
• Know what to expect : During an expressive arts therapy session, a therapist guides you through a process of exploring what you are feeling using an expressive art activity. They may have you work through multiple activities or you might focus on a specific form of expression, such as writing or dance. 

International Expressive Arts Therapy Association. Welcome to IEATA .

Appalachian State University. Questions about expressive arts therapy .

Cleveland Clinic. Creative arts therapies .

Hoffmann B. The role of expressive therapies in therapeutic interactions; art therapy - explanation of the concept . Trakia J Sci . 2016;3:197-202. doi:10.15547/tjs.2016.03.001

Siegel J, Iida H, Rachlin K, Yount G. Expressive arts therapy with hospitalized children: A pilot study of co-creating Healing Sock Creatures© . J Pediatr Nurs . 2016;31(1):92-8. doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2015.08.006

International Expressive Arts Therapy Association. Who we are .

Vaartio-Rajalin H, Santamäki-Fischer R, Jokisalo P, Fagerström L. Art making and expressive art therapy in adult health and nursing care: A scoping review .  Int J Nurs Sci . 2020;8(1):102-119. doi:10.1016/j.ijnss.2020.09.011

Mahendran R, Gandhi M, Moorakonda RB, et al. Art therapy is associated with sustained improvement in cognitive function in the elderly with mild neurocognitive disorder: findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial for art therapy and music reminiscence activity versus usual care . Trials . 2018;19(1):615. doi:10.1186/s13063-018-2988-6

Koo M, Chen HP, Yeh YC. Coloring activities for anxiety reduction and mood improvement in Taiwanese community-dwelling older adults: a randomized controlled study . Evid Based Complement Alternat Med . 2020 Jan 21;2020:6964737. doi:10.1155/2020/6964737

Farokhi M. Art therapy in humanistic psychiatry . Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences . 2011;30:2088-2092. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.406

Laws KR, Conway W. Do adjunctive art therapies reduce symptomatology in schizophrenia? A meta-analysis . World J Psychiatry. 2019;9(8):107-120. doi:10.5498/wjp.v9.i8.107

Pak J. Does your health insurance cover art and music therapy? Healthcare Insider.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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What is therapy, who needs therapy, how to choose a therapist, publish an article on therapyroute, art therapy explained.

Art Therapy offers a unique approach and path to healing by tapping into the therapeutic power of creative expression, regardless of artistic skill.

Welcome to our insightful guide on the techniques and applications of art therapy. This guide provides insight into the therapeutic power of artistic expression and explains how it can benefit individuals of all ages and backgrounds.

Whether you're seeking a new way to navigate complex emotions or simply hoping to enhance your self-awareness, art therapy offers a unique pathway to healing.

Table of Contents

What Is Art Therapy?

Core principles of art therapy, what to expect from an art therapy session, who can benefit from art therapy, the pros and cons of art therapy, is art therapy right for you, key takeaways, frequently asked questions, do i need to be good at art to benefit from art therapy, can art therapy be done online, how long does art therapy typically last, is art therapy suitable for children, how can i prepare for my first art therapy session.

Art Therapy combines the creative process of art-making with psychotherapeutic principles, providing individuals with a safe and supportive space for expression and healing. It's founded on the belief that creating art can be inherently therapeutic, allowing individuals to explore emotions, reduce stress, improve self-esteem, and enhance awareness. Art therapy bridges verbal and non-verbal communication, inviting individuals to express feelings that might be difficult to communicate with words alone.

Art therapy is conducted by therapists trained in art and psychology, who invite participants to explore their emotions, reduce stress, and improve self-esteem through various artistic mediums. These professionals guide individuals through the creative process, help interpret the art produced, and explore the emotions and thoughts it reveals. The therapeutic journey in art therapy is not about the end product or the work's artistic value but about finding associations between the creative choices made and an individual's inner world.

Art therapy is grounded in several key principles:

• Self-Expression Through Art: The creative process provides a safe space for individuals to express complex feelings and thoughts.
• Art as Communication: Art reveals subconscious thoughts and patterns, serving as a powerful medium for communication.
• Therapeutic Relationship: The relationship between the therapist and the client is fundamental. The therapist creates an environment of acceptance and understanding, facilitating the individual's creative and emotional journey.

Art Therapy sessions encourage individuals to use art materials to create works that reflect their emotions, experiences, or thoughts. Sessions can be one-on-one or in groups and may include:

• Exploration and Creation: Individuals explore various art materials and processes under the therapist's guidance, focusing on the act of creation rather than the end product.
• Discussion and Interpretation: The therapist may discuss the artwork with the individual, exploring the meanings, themes, and emotions it may represent. This dialogue helps reveal insights into the individual's experience.
• Integration: The therapist helps the individual understand how these insights relate to their life and personal growth, integrating the therapy into broader coping strategies.

Art therapy is versatile and inclusive, making it suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds, from children to the elderly. It's particularly beneficial for those who find verbal communication challenging or insufficient to express their thoughts and feelings. Individuals dealing with emotional, psychological, or physical issues can find solace and understanding through creative expression.

Common conditions addressed by art therapy include anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, chronic illness, and relationship issues, among others. Additionally, individuals looking to explore their creativity, enhance self-awareness, or use art for personal development may also find art therapy enriching.

Benefits of Art Therapy

• Enhanced Emotional Expression: Art provides an alternative language for individuals struggling with verbal expression, allowing them to convey emotions and experiences through colours, shapes, and textures.
• Stress Reduction and Relaxation: The act of creating art can be inherently calming as a form of meditation that promotes relaxation and mindfulness.
• Increased self-awareness and Insight: Art therapy often leads to greater self-discovery, uncovering hidden emotions, unresolved issues, or subconscious thoughts.
• Improved Cognitive and Motor Skills: Beyond emotional benefits, art therapy can enhance cognitive functions and motor skills through planning and executing art projects.
• Fosters Social Skills in Group Settings: In group sessions, art therapy offers opportunities to develop social skills, build community, and learn from others in a safe and non-judgmental environment.

Potential Challenges of Art Therapy

• Misconceptions About Artistic Skill: Some individuals may hesitate to engage in art therapy due to beliefs that artistic talent is required, even though the therapeutic value is in the creative process of art rather than the completed product.
• Emotional Intensity: Art therapy can unveil deep-seated emotions and memories, leading to unexpected confrontations with intense feelings. Skilled therapists are essential for navigating these revelations safely.
• Availability of Qualified Therapists: Finding therapists with specialised training in art therapy might be challenging in some areas. It's vital to seek out professionals with the appropriate credentials and experience.
• Integration with Other Treatment Plans: While art therapy is effective alone for some issues, complex psychological conditions may require it to be part of a broader, integrated treatment approach.

Selecting art therapy as a pathway to healing and self-discovery is a personal decision influenced by several factors. Consider the following to determine if art therapy aligns with your therapeutic goals:

Factors to Consider

• Comfort with Creative Expression: Consider your openness to using art as an expression. Art therapy doesn’t require artistic skill, but a willingness to explore thoughts and feelings through creative means is essential.
• Desire for Non-verbal Communication: Art therapy provides an alternative through visual and tactile mediums if verbal communication is challenging or insufficient for expressing complex emotions.
• Interest in Self-exploration: Art therapy can lead to profound insights about oneself. Art therapy can be a fitting choice if you’re curious about diving deep into your subconscious and uncovering aspects of your psyche through creative processes.
• Need for Stress Reduction: For individuals seeking therapeutic methods that naturally reduce stress and induce relaxation, creating art within therapy sessions offers significant calming benefits.
• Therapeutic Goals: Reflect on whether your primary therapeutic goals align with what art therapy offers. While art therapy can address a wide range of issues, ensure it matches your desired outcomes.

Consulting with a Professional

• Research Qualified Therapists: Look for therapists with specific training and credentials in Art Therapy. Professional directories and therapy platforms can be useful resources.
• Initial Consultation: Most therapists offer initial consultations to discuss your needs, goals, and concerns. Use this opportunity to ask about their experience with Art Therapy and how they incorporate it into practice.
• Discuss Art-Making Process: Inquire about how art-making is integrated into sessions and what materials or methods are typically used. This discussion can help set your expectations and alleviate any apprehensions about the creative aspect of therapy.
• Assess Comfort and Fit: As with any therapy, the therapeutic relationship is crucial. Ensure you feel comfortable with the therapist’s approach and that there is a mutual understanding of your goals.

Art therapy provides a unique avenue for expression and healing by combining art-making with psychotherapy. It suits people of all ages and conditions and offers benefits like enhanced emotional expression and stress reduction. Consider factors like comfort with creative expression and therapeutic goals when exploring if art therapy is right for you, and consult with a qualified therapist to guide your journey effectively.

• Art therapy leverages the therapeutic potential of art-making to facilitate emotional expression, self-discovery, and stress reduction.
• Regardless of artistic ability, anyone open to exploring their emotions through creative processes can benefit from art therapy.
• Art's visual and tactile nature can reveal subconscious thoughts and patterns, providing unique insights that might not emerge through traditional talk therapy.
• Success in art therapy depends on the individual's willingness to engage in the creative process and explore the resulting artwork’s emotional and symbolic content.
• Working with a qualified art therapist ensures a supportive environment where the therapeutic value of art-making is maximised.

No, art therapy focuses on the process of creation and its therapeutic benefits, not on artistic talent or the aesthetic quality of the artwork.

Yes, many art therapists offer online sessions, using digital platforms for creating and sharing artwork.

The duration can vary based on individual needs and goals. Some see benefits in short-term therapy, while others may engage in longer-term art therapy.

Absolutely, children often find it easier to express themselves through art than words, making art therapy particularly effective for young individuals.

Come with an open mind and be prepared to engage in the creative process. No prior preparation or art skills are required.

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What is Art Therapy? Fact Sheet

Share this fact sheet as a hand-out to help raise awareness about art therapy and the work art therapists do with their clients and communities they serve.

 What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a mental health profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.

Especially when people are struggling, facing a challenge, or even a health crisis — their own words or language fails them. During these times, an art therapist can help clients express themselves in ways beyond words or language. Art therapists are trained in art and psychological theory and can help clients integrate nonverbal cues and metaphors that are often expressed through the creative process.

Art therapists work with individuals of all ages, including children who are experiencing behavioral challenges or those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. They assist people and caregivers in health crises; victims of violence or other trauma — including our military service members and student survivors of mass shootings; older adults with dementia; and anyone that needs help coping with life’s challenges.

Who are Art Therapists?

Art therapists are credentialed mental health professionals. They are trained in a broad range of psychological theory and ways to use art media and creative processes to help people cope with mental health challenges. Art therapists hold Masters – level or higher degrees. Look for a therapist with the credentials ATR ( art therapist registered ) or ATR – BC ( board – certified art therapist registered ) .

Where do Art Therapists Work?

Art therapists serve diverse communities in di ff erent settings — from medical institutions like hospitals, cancer treatment centers and psychiatric facilities, to wellness centers and schools. Many art therapists have independent practices. They also help support individuals and communities after a crisis or traumatic event.

Why is Art Therapy Effective?

Art therapy is particularly e ff ective during times of crisis, changes in circumstance, trauma, and grief.

According to research, art therapy helps people feel more in control of their own lives , and helps relieve anxiety and depression, including among cancer patients , tuberculosis patients in isolation , and military veterans with PTSD . In addition, art therapy assists in managing pain by moving mental focus away from the painful stimulus.

Do You Have to be Good at Art?

You don’t have to be an artist or even “artsy” to make art. Everyone is creative – and we all remember making art as children.

In art therapy sessions, your art therapist may encourage you to try di ff erent art media such as color pencils, paints, clay, and collage. Sometimes non – traditional art materials ( e.g. tree branches and leaves ) are intentionally introduced to you in order to expand your creative expression. You may also explore di ff erent styles of expression, using doodling, abstract designs, and contour drawing. Art therapists are trained to facilitate a type of art making for your specific needs.

To experience the process of art therapy, it’s important to work with a trained and credentialed art therapist . Find an art therapist near you on AATA’s Art Therapist Locator . 

“This collage represents the healing space I am intentional in creating for each of my clients.” — Natasha Green, MA, ATR

“Visual art helps give choices back to the patients who have lost the ability to make many of the choices in their care and empowering the patient to make decisions in art, to do things in art, to observe things in art, is important to their ability to cope with their circumstances.”

— Valerie Hanks, ATR-P, art therapist at UAB Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Alabama

“Especially among my children and teen clients, I am always inspired by their willingness to use art materials to discover novel and meaningful ways to create their own emotional language… experimenting with mediums that help them resonate with their feelings more clearly, and connect verbal and non- verbal language together.”

— Matthew Chernaskey, MA, ATR, art therapist at an outpatient clinic with children, teens, and families

“Art-making encourages self-exploration and expression. It encourages more vulnerability simply through art being an expression of oneself. By externalizing their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through art, they may feel less judgment and/or shame toward themselves. Art making may give clients an increased sense of control over what they disclose.”

— Natasha Green, MA, ATR, art therapist in private practice at Green Amethyst Art Therapy

“Visual arts offer veterans suffering from PTSD a nonthreatening alternative to compose in images what is inexpressible to them with words. It is a way in and often the first step to organize and express overwhelming feelings and sensations they experience. Most importantly, their own artwork becomes the narrative to tell their story and is the foundation that we use to begin therapy.”

— Rosemarie Rogers, ATR-BC, LCAT, art therapist with Veterans Affairs

Creative Arts Therapies Explained: 18 Best Courses and Ideas

In ancient Greece and Rome, participation in theater acts was “prescribed” for individuals with depression or anxiety.

Likewise, tribal communities around the globe have been using dance, music, and painting in healing for millennia (Degges-White, 2011).

If you’re interested in taking the next step in your career to become a creative arts therapist, look no further. In this article, we’ll give you a basic introduction to the field of creative arts therapies, recommend some training options, and point you toward our favorite resources you can use with your art therapy clients today.

Before you continue reading, we thought you might like to download our three Grief Exercises [PDF] for free . These science-based tools will help you move yourself or others through grief in a compassionate way.

This Article Contains:

What are creative arts therapies, a brief history of creative arts therapies, how to become a creative arts therapist, training options: 9 courses and degrees, 5 best online programs to consider, how to use creative arts in counseling, top 4 activities and ideas for your sessions, helpful resources from positivepsychology.com, a take-home message.

Creative arts therapies (CATs) involve

“the implementation of an arts intervention by a trained, credentialed creative arts therapist; the presence of a systematic psychotherapeutic process; and the use of individualized treatment interventions.”

Bradt & Goodill, 2013, p. 970

Like other therapies, CATs address patients’ specific therapeutic issues and include the phases of patient assessment , treatment, and evaluation. Further, CAT interventions can consist of a broad range of artistic practices, including (Bradt & Goodill, 2013):

• Dance/movement
• Expressive writing
• Psychodrama

CAT differs from more general art-related healthcare practices in that CAT practitioners should be licensed and accredited.

Another difference is that more general art-related healthcare practices encompass a broad continuum of care, and the patient may play a more or less active role in the performance or creation of the art.

For instance, a performance put on by a group of artists for a patient would fall under the broader umbrella of general art-related healthcare but not be considered CAT, which centers around patient involvement as part of a targeted psychotherapeutic intervention.

When did it begin?

Founded in 1855, St. Elizabeths Hospital’s Department of Behavioral Health in Washington, D.C., had pioneering campuses in the therapeutic fields of art, music, dance, bibliotherapy, and psychodrama, and is widely considered to be the birthplace of CAT.

Marian Chace, a dancer and therapist born in Rhode Island, believed that dance was a powerful medium through which humans could meet their essential need for communication and understanding (Winerman, 2005). She is recognized as one of the first to use dance to meet the needs of patients with severe mental health challenges, practicing at St. Elizabeths Hospital in the 1940s after observing the positive effects that movement could have on symptoms of trauma (Sandel, Chaiklin, & Lohn, 1993).

A key figure in the founding of the American Dance Therapy Association, Chace ultimately became the Association’s first president and has left a long legacy of dignity and compassion in her work.

Arleen Hynes, a librarian and bibliotherapist at St. Elizabeths, discovered that inviting her patients to relate to poems resulted in evocative and creative responses that expressed their inner lives (Winerman, 2005; Rossiter, 2004). She began focusing on literature that stimulated the imagination rather than on narratives and trained herself to conduct therapy with poetry (Lamb & Friday, 2006).

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The requirements for becoming a CAT will differ between countries and states.

The minimum qualifications for conducting any form of therapy involve different supervised internship hours and accreditation requirements.

To learn more, be sure to look at our dedicated article How to Become a Therapist: Requirements, Degrees, & Experience  or consider purchasing our in-depth guide, On Becoming a Therapist .

The standard pathway for becoming a CAT typically proceeds as follows (New York Health Careers, n.d.):

• Complete a bachelor’s degree that includes coursework in both creative arts and psychopathology.
• Complete a master’s degree in CAT from a registered/accredited program.
• Complete a minimum number of supervised internship hours (e.g., in New York, this is 1,500 hours).
• Undergo accreditation to practice therapy in your country or state.
• Pass a CAT test/exam, such as the Art Therapy Credentials Board, the Certification Board for Music Therapists, or the New York State Case Narrative Exam.

Interested in being trained as a creative arts therapist? Here are some of the degree options around the world.

Bachelor’s degrees

The following bachelor’s programs are recommended entry points for learning about CAT. They do not fully prepare students for licensure or certification to practice CAT, as this requires a minimum of a master’s degree.

The University of Tampa – Bachelor of Arts in Art Therapy, USA

This BA program gives students a well-rounded introduction to the therapeutic arts, teaching its applications for working with a range of intrapsychic phenomena.

Particular applications include the use of arts for personal growth, rehabilitation, and self-awareness .

The program includes topics on the following art mediums:

• Printmaking

You can learn more on the program’s website .

University of South Wales – Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Creative and Therapeutic Arts, Australia

This bachelor’s program allows students to develop their future practice as a CAT in community and educational settings.

Across three years, students will learn innovative creative and therapeutic arts methods through art practice placements and theory-related skill building from leading experts.

Placement opportunities include those in community settings, such as women’s centers and children’s play therapy settings.

Find out more on the program’s website .

Ikon Institute of Australia – Bachelor of Arts Therapy, Australia

This undergraduate program gives students a broad knowledge of psychotherapy and therapeutic skills while emphasizing the processes of art therapy.

In particular, students will practice the artistic modes of:

• Visual arts
• Storytelling

For electives, students can choose topics including eco-psychotherapy, art and social action, indigenous approaches to health and wellbeing, and dreams and symbols.

Master’s degrees

The following is a sample of accredited master’s programs designed to prepare students for licensure and certification as a CAT.

Pratt Institute – Creative Arts Therapy Graduate Degrees, USA

New York’s Pratt Institute is a global leader in higher education, offering two accredited graduate degrees in CATs.

The Master of Professional Studies in Art Therapy and Creativity Development is an accredited 60-credit program synthesizing creative, aesthetic decision-making and psychotherapeutic practice and theory through experiential learning.

The Master of Science in Dance/Movement Therapy is structured similarly but emphasizes dance/movement as the means for therapeutic change based on the healing processes proposed by psychodynamic theory .

You can learn more about these programs on the institute’s website .

Leeds Beckett University – Master of Art Psychotherapy Practice, UK

This program, run in partnership with Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, is designed to meet the national training criteria to practice and register as an art therapist or art psychotherapist in the United Kingdom.

Training focuses on developing students’ ability to deliver safe and effective care using visual art and image making. It also gives students access to work placements in a broad range of settings, including general hospitals, disability services, and forensics.

You can learn more on the program’s website or by viewing the program’s course overview .

University of Melbourne – Master of Creative Arts Therapy, Australia

This two-year degree program provides an overview of theories related to health treatment involving the arts, which can be applied in a range of contexts.

Students will learn about contemporary practices in the field of art therapy and explore the similarities, differences, and differing effects of various art forms.

Several Australian licensure bodies accredit the program for CAT and connect students with a broad range of placement opportunities.

You can learn more on the University of Melbourne’s website .

Doctoral programs

Note that the following doctoral programs are designed to help students pursue a nonclinical career or expand on other programs’ clinical licenses. They do not prepare graduates for clinical licensure or certification.

Saybrook University – PhD in Psychology: Creativity Studies Specialization, USA

In this doctoral program, students will discover the value of nurturing creativity to help achieve health and organizational outcomes.

In particular, students will learn to analyze and conduct psychological research while strengthening their skills to work in a range of public, private, and nonprofit sectors, such as the arts, health, consulting, and social transformation.

To learn more, visit the program’s website .

Florida State University – PhD or EdD in Art Education: Concentration in Art Therapy, USA

The art education PhD or EdD at Florida State teaches students the skills to make substantial academic contributions to the field of art therapy, with many of this program’s students making major contributions to the literature in faculties and colleges around the United States.

In particular, students of this program will gain the skills to teach, lead research teams, publish and present findings, engage in advanced clinical practice, and develop art therapy education programs.

To learn more, visit the program’s website or view the College of Fine Art’s handbook .

University of Haifa – School of Creative Arts Therapies Doctoral Programs, Israel

Israel’s School of Creative Arts Therapies at the University of Haifa offers creative arts therapy PhD programs with the following specializations:

• Art therapy
• Music therapy
• Dance/movement therapy
• Drama therapy

These programs are designed to train students in the skills to forward research in CAT, focusing on theory development, evidence-based practice , and basic and applied research.

You can learn more about these programs and get contact information by visiting the program’s website and downloading their information leaflet .

For even more programs and information, be sure to take a look at the American Art Therapy Association’s website .

If you’re looking to complete a university-level qualification in CAT, know that many programs have online or blended modes of instruction. To get the latest information on the availability of these online options, we recommend reaching out to advisors at your chosen college or university.

Edinboro University – Master of Arts in Counseling, USA

Edinboro University in Pennsylvania is one of the few universities worldwide offering a 100%-online master’s program in art counseling.

The program is accredited and provides students with a solid theoretical and practical foundation upon which to build your own art counseling practice.

Students are invited to select a practicum opportunity and internship in a specialty area of their choice in their local community. This course can also be taken as an abbreviated post-master’s certificate by those who already have a master’s in a related field and are looking to expand an existing skill set.

You can learn more about this program and its offerings on Edinboro University’s website .

Certificates and diplomas

If you’re looking to dip a toe in the field of creative arts therapy or expand an existing skill set, consider the following online training options:

• College for Educational and Clinical Art Therapy (CECAT) Servicing over 30 countries via its online offerings, CECAT offers a range of certificates, diplomas, and introductory courses in English, German, Chinese, Spanish, Hindi, and Arabic.
• Healing With the Arts ( available on Coursera ) The activities in this four-week course offered by the University of Florida draw on dance, visual arts, music, and writing to help students discover their inner artist and promote physical, spiritual, cognitive, and emotional healing within themselves.
• Therapeutic Art Life Coach Certification ( available on Udemy ) With a focus on tools about releasing pain, finding meaning, and accessing intuition , this course supports licensed therapists and coaches looking for new tools and ideas to integrate into their practice.
• Positive Psychology Art Coaching ( available on Udemy ) This course teaches coaching that supports children’s self-esteem , confidence, and wellbeing using arts and can be adapted for a combination of one-to-one and online group coaching sessions.

Just as the arts have taken hold in therapy, there are many avenues to apply the arts in counseling. Further, there are often many advantages to doing so.

Here are just a few ways you might use creative arts to support the clients of your counseling practice (Degges-White, 2011):

• The arts are universal and can help a diversity of people across cultures and demographics.
• Visual arts can aid people with limited verbal ability or in situations with language barriers.
• Music therapy has been shown to benefit individuals with age-related diseases/disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
• Movement through dance can help people with physical disabilities stretch and gain mobility.
• Expressive writing is accessible to people of different abilities through tools such as dictation and specialist keyboards.

Overall, creative arts can help counselors move beyond simply talking to discover innovative pathways to achieving a client’s goals.

For more useful resources, look at the books Integrating the Expressive Arts Into Counseling Practice by Suzanne Degges-White and Nancy Davis and The Creative Arts in Counseling by Samuel Gladding. Also check out our article Expressive Arts Therapy: 15 Creative Activities and Techniques which is specifically dedicated to Expressive Art Therapy.

Art as empowerment: the virtue of art therapy – Ann Lawton

For useful ideas for your next creative arts therapy session, consider the following free worksheets:

• 3-Month Vision Board This worksheet encourages your clients to set three-month goals by drawing pictures of their ideal future in eight life domains.
• Honesty: Why, How, and What As a learning exercise rather than a specific therapeutic intervention, this worksheet begins with a series of questions and reflections about honest versus dishonest behavior and concludes with an activity inviting children to illustrate their understanding of honesty by creating a poster.
• Drawing Your Fears This exercise invites children to identify a scenario that is causing them anxiety and draw different ways the scenario might unfold to result in different outcomes.
• Gratitude Gifts This activity invites children to reflect on things or people for which they are grateful. They are then asked to draw what they are grateful for in a series of gift boxes.

For even more ideas, be sure to check out our dedicated blog posts exploring therapy via the visual arts , movement , narrative , drama , and music.

17 Exercises For Grief & Bereavement

Apply these 17 Grief & Bereavement Exercises [PDF] to help others process difficult emotions, leverage self-compassion, and find balance following painful loss.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

For even more useful ideas, consider checking out the many resources available through the Positive Psychology Toolkit© . This toolkit contains over 400 carefully developed tools to support your therapy or counseling practice, with many templates centering on the creative arts.

Here, we illustrate one activity from this resource as an example of the way color and creativity can be used to strengthen understanding of links between the body and one’s emotions.

Visualizing the Bodily Experience of an Emotion

This exercise aims to increase emotional awareness by inviting clients to explore and draw their emotions in the body.

• Materials Colored pencils, watercolor paints, crayons, or textas; blank silhouettes/outlines in the shape of a body, printed on sheets of paper.
• Introduction Have you ever noticed that different emotions manifest differently and in different areas in your body? For example, when we are angry, we might feel heat rush to our heads, chest, and fists; when we are sad, we might feel a heaviness in the chest and tired all over. In this exercise, you will explore and draw where you feel your emotions in your body.
• Activity Steps First, choose an emotion. This could be an emotion you have been struggling with recently or one you are experiencing presently, such as anxiety, anger, or happiness. Next, take two of the pieces of paper with the outline of a body. On one template, use the different colors and materials to represent which parts of the body feel most activated (i.e., sensations feel stronger or faster) when you are experiencing this emotion. On another template, indicate which parts of the body feel most deactivated (i.e., sensations feel weaker or slower) when experiencing this emotion.
• Wrapping Up Complete the previous steps for any other emotions that you are curious about, pleasant or unpleasant. Doing so will allow you to become more aware of and familiar with your emotions and recognize them in your body when they arise.

For a done-for-you version of this activity, including facilitation instructions and printable templates, be sure to take a look at the Positive Psychology Toolkit© .

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others move through grief in a compassionate way, this collection contains 17 validated grief and bereavement exercises . Use them to help others find balance as they attempt to make sense of a life that has been irrevocably changed.

CAT is a well-established yet growing practice, and demand for therapists trained in CAT may well increase.

At the core of creative arts therapy is a focus on the act of creating art rather than the final product. By emphasizing this focus, practitioners can give clients opportunities for self-expression and discovery of unseen parts of themselves, making the shift to a creative medium or mode often worth it.

We hope this article has inspired you to consider a career in creative arts therapy or to begin integrating artistic practices into the care you provide. If you know of any other resources or avenues for training in this field, be sure to let us know in the comments – we’d love to hear from you.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Grief Exercises [PDF] for free .

• Bradt, J., & Goodill, S. (2013). Creative arts therapies defined: Comment on “Effects of creative arts therapies on psychological symptoms and quality of life in patients with cancer”. JAMA Internal Medicine , 173 (11), 969–969.
• Degges-White, S. (2011). Introduction to the use of expressive arts in counseling. In S. Degges-White & N. Davis (Eds.), Integrating the expressive arts into counseling practice (pp. 1–6). Springer.
• Hynes, A., & Hynes-Berry, M. (2011). Biblio/poetry therapy: The interactive process: A handbook (3rd ed.). North Star Press.
• Lamb, Y. S., & Friday, W. P. S. W. (2006, September 15). Arleen Hynes, 90: Bibliotherapy pioneer. The Washington Post . https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/14/AR2006091401712.html
• New York Health Careers. (n.d.). Creative arts therapists . University at Albany, SUNY, School of Public Health. Retrieved from https://www.healthcareersinfo.net/creative-arts-therapists/
• Rossiter, C. (2004). Blessed and delighted: An interview with Arleen Hynes, poetry therapy pioneer. Journal of Poetry Therapy , 17 (4), 215–222.
• Sandel, S., Chaiklin, S., & Lohn, A. (Eds.). (1993). Foundations of dance/movement therapy: The life and work of Marian Chace . American Dance Therapy Association.
• Winerman, L. (2005). Express yourself! Psychologists are bringing creative arts therapies into the mainstream. Monitor on Psychology , 2 (36), 34–35.

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What our readers think.

Unfortunately this profession is not regulated here in Australia. It is a good overview, however, it is disappointing to see undergraduate programs listed, which are expensive and are not the international minimum standard to become an art therapist, and that you have left out The University of Queensland’s (School of Medicine/Department of Psychiatry) Master of Mental Health-Art Therapy, which is a highly regarded post-graduate program.

Thank you Karis to mention the Mater Program of Mental Health-Art Therapy in your country. I agree with you that the overview is fine and a help to get informed about the differenct landscapes of trainings. I am dissapointed that the announcement of the free “Grief PDF” turned out to be a salary promotion. I would not have given my email for that. Giving my email was a “thank you” to https://positivepsychology.com for getting more newsletter suscribers and potential users

Good day Freda,

My apologies in advance should have accidentaly received incorrect worksheets. Could you please verify whether the three free grief worksheets included the ‘Drawing Grief Tool’, ‘Objects of Connection’ and the ‘Prescription to Grieve Tool’? Which worksheet did you perceive as a salary promotion?

I will definitely look into this upon your feedback.

Annelé Venter Publisher

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Creative Arts Therapies

In this section, what can creative arts therapies help with, what are creative arts therapies, what should i look for in a provider, what is the treatment like, why does it work, how strong is the evidence, where can i find more information, where can i go to get this treatment, practical exercises, what do patients say, what do experts say, personal stories, research, articles, and books.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Please speak with a medical professional before seeking treatment. 

Treating PTSD, brain injury, and co-occurring diagnoses such as depression and anxiety.

Here I am, a strong, physically demanding warrior. Why do I have to do art? ... Each time I did something with art therapy I felt better because there was something in me that was dying to get out. And through art I was able to express it.

Using words to express memories and emotions isn’t always easy, especially after a traumatic event. Creative arts therapies provide healthy, non-threatening ways of processing your experiences and feelings, as well as offer a chance to communicate those feelings to yourself and others. There are several forms of creative arts therapies, each with distinct treatment methods and qualified providers. Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Drama Therapy, and Dance/Movement Therapy are commonly used to promote self-expression.

Each of these therapies do not require prior skill or experience, simply openness to engaging with thoughts and/or honing functional skills in novel, creative ways. When addressing past trauma, these forms of therapy are generally used alongside other treatment methods, such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT) or prolonged exposure therapy (PET).

Providers in creative arts therapies should hold national certifications to support rehabilitation or healing through arts-based processes. Each discipline has its own credentialing to ensure skilled care in line with professional standards. These clinicians should also have received specialized education from a university or college that is approved by the field’s accrediting body.

Generally, you should look for the following credentialing by your provider’s names:

• Art Therapists: ATR or ATR
• Music Therapists: MT-BC
• Drama Therapists: RBT
• Dance/Movement Therapists: R-DMT or BC-DMT

Art Therapists should have a master’s degree or higher, generally from an integrated program in psychotherapy and visual arts. The initials ATR after a therapist’s name means he or she is registered with the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB). The initials ATR-BC means the therapist is not only registered but has passed an examination to become board-certified by the ATCB ( Art Therapy , 2021).

Music Therapists must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in music therapy from an American Music Therapy Association-approved university. The credentials MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified) is necessary for professional practice through the Certification Board of Music Therapists.

Drama Therapists should be certified as Registered Drama Therapists (RDT) following a master’s degree or higher in drama therapy from a North-American Drama Therapy Association or a master’s or higher in theatre or a mental health profession with additional in-depth NADTA training.

Dance/Movement Therapists require a master’s degree from an American Dance Therapy Association Approved Graduate Program or an alternate route with master’s in an associated area with dance/movement training from qualified instructors. This method would award a clinician a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT) credential. A Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist (BC-DMT) can be obtained after an R-DMT in preparation for ability to train and supervise other therapists or offer private practice, based on additional competence and experience.

Across all disciplines, the first session typically includes a conversation between you and the therapist to develop goals and plan next steps based on your personal needs and preferences. You are then given the tools to create art through whatever medium you prefer and find works well to express. “Once you begin creating, the therapist may, at times, simply observe your process as you work, without interference or judgment ( Art Therapy , 2021).” When you are done, the therapist may ask how you feel about the process of creating art or discuss the personal meaning behind the artistic expression.

While recreational arts programs can be beneficial in providing a creative and meaningful leisure outlet, creative arts therapies are formal treatment led by trained therapists ( Jones et al. , 2017). These providers offer guidance to find and process personal messages in each piece of art you create, while providing constructive feedback ( Kaimal & Blank , 2015) and conducting assessments that provide insight into emotional, physical, and cognitive health. These more structured interactions can also help treatment providers stay aware of your clinical progress.

Caption : “An Army flight medic. The mask represents our country shedding tears for our military on one side, and our military shedding tears for our country on the other side. Quotes on the military side (which also symbolizes death via the skull) read, “Shed no more tears, your medic will shed them for you,” and “I have destroyed my life and myself so that others may live.”” Mask by a military service member from art therapy sessions at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. ( National Museum of Health and Medicine photo by Matthew Breitbart/ Released ) [or NEA, DoD Launch Creative Forces Sites Expansion to Increase Art Therapies ]

It wasn’t long before I drew a picture of my operation. It was horrifically hard, but I wanted to put down in a painting what had happened to me. It let me talk about what had happened, more than I ever could in words.

Using creative arts allows you to draw on a nonverbal or creative communication that can prompt conversations about traumatic memories and confusing emotions. This can lead to more productive dialogues with the people involved with your life and your care. Further, conversations and meaningful processing occurring within therapy sessions can also translate into the development of coping strategies that can be used outside of the art studio, such as more comfortable social interactions, reduced feelings of guilt and loss, and improved self-esteem. Engagement in different mediums of art with the support of your therapist can also facilitate improvements in functional skills through use of your cognitive and physical abilities in a novel environment. For instance, painting offers opportunities for strategic planning, organization, fine and gross motor skills, balance, and hand eye coordination as you put paint brush to canvas.

Formal research continues in this field, but many studies and individuals have found art therapy to be helpful in promoting growth and recovery after a brain injury or PTSD, often leading to an improved quality of life. In particular, research highlights improved self-awareness, integration and expression of traumatic experiences, improved interpersonal communication, and improved self-regulation, coping, and cognition as commonly seen outcomes linked with this type of therapy.

Creating Art After a Brain Injury

Recovery Motivated by Fear ... and the Drive to Create Art

General NCCATA NEA Creative Forces: National Resource Center U.S. Dept of Defense: Warrior Care Healing Arts

Art Therapy The American Art Therapy Association  

Dance Therapy American Dance Therapy Association

Music Therapy American Music Therapy Association | American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)

The American Art Therapy Association Therapist Locator

NICoE Intrepid Spirit Centers (These centers are for military personnel.)

US Department of Veterans Affairs Creative Arts Therapies

Semper Sound - Music Therapy for Military

SHARE Military Initiative Brain Injury & TBI Treatment for Veterans (Shepherd Center)

Create art such as drawing, painting, sculpture, writing, singing, or playing music.

Alternative Therapy Expo | Neuro Community Care (neurocc.com)

Foundation for Art and Healing: Creative Exercises

Foundation for Art and Healing: Helping Youth Cope with Tragedy through Creative Expression

Art touches everyone. It speaks in volumes beyond words. I’ve had veterans who’ve come up to my art and say, ‘This makes me want to talk.’ While others said, ‘Is there art within me? How do I find out?’ And the therapy of it, I can see it in their faces, how essential it was and how it is, how it touched the very core of self-healing.

—  Phyllis , a U.S. Navy Veteran (starting around 2:20)

All of these songs that I had written are about what it feels like to come home. Each song is like a little demon, a little monster that had been haunting me. These songs are deeply personal; they’re like a singing diary. Songwriting was a way to take something negative and place it somewhere else other than inside myself.

—  Jason Moon , Iraq war veteran, singer/songwriter

—  Chris Miller , a retired teacher who suffered a brain injury after getting a tumor removed

Captain Jason Berner , U.S. Marine Corps

Art therapy provides a nonverbal opportunity to process things that may be uncomfortable to use words to process.

—  Jackie Biggs , Art Therapist NICoE TBI Clinic Fort Belvoir

Having the art is a way to see the future, to see who they are, and to express themselves, is really helpful ... and how people are seeing who they are, compared to how they feel on the inside, compared to the exterior self.

—  Daniel Blausey , ATR-BC, LCAT, Art Therapist, Educator, and Artist

We see improvement -- that they’re symbolically showing this bright future, perhaps the contrast between how they felt before and how they’re feeling moving forward.

—  Melissa Walker , Art Therapist NICoE Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

• In this video , US Army Sgt Fox explains how his memorial box has helped him heal and remember meaningful events and people in his life. From BrainLine
• How people at the JFK Rehabilitation Center in Edison, New Jersey are using art to help them recover from traumatic brain injuries . From NJTV News .
• Watch this video from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and DoD to see music (and other arts) therapy helping injured service members. From BrainLine
• Captain Jason Berner, United States Marine Corps, struggled with the contrast of being a strong warrior and learning to express himself creatively . From The Foundation for Art and Healing
• Life After Brain Injury: The Role of Art in Rehabilitation - For many, painting or drawing helps rehabilitation after brain injury, and often ends up becoming a passion, and a way of life. From The British Association of Art Therapists
• Does Art Therapy Actually Work? - Drawing what’s on your mind can help you process emotions. From Vice.com
• Military Veterans 'Saved' by Art - Retired U.S. Army paratrooper Alfredo Hurtado never imagined he'd be dancing -- but he also didn't expect to be savaged by shrapnel during an Iraq deployment, after which he suffered. From Military.com
• Book:  Art, Science and Art Therapy: Repainting the Picture
• Art therapy for military service members with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury: Three case reports highlighting trajectories of treatment and recovery From Science Direct
• Music Therapy and Military Populations - A Status Report and Recommendations on Music Therapy Treatment, Programs, Research, and Practice Policy. From American Music Therapy Association .
• Music Therapy With Military Populations: A Scoping Review From Oxford Academic
• Dance/movement therapy & warrior wellness: A pilot case study . From Science Direct
• Let's Dance: A Holistic Approach to Treating Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder From US National Library of Medicine

Art Therapy . (2021). Psychology Today.

Fiet, L. (2014). Mask-making and Creative Intelligence in Transcultural Education . Caribbean Quarterly, 60 (3), 58–72.

Gant, L., & Tripp, T. (2016). The image comes first: Treating preverbal trauma with art therapy . Art Therapy, Trauma, and Neuroscience , 67–99.

Jones, J. P., Walker, M. S., Drass, J. M., & Kaimal, G. (2017). Art therapy interventions for active duty military service members with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury . International Journal of Art Therapy, 23 (2), 70–85.

Kaimal, G., & Blank, C. A. L. (2015). Program Evaluation: A Doorway to Research in the Creative Arts Therapies . Art Therapy, 32 (2), 89–92.

King, J.L. (Ed.). (2016). Art Therapy, Trauma, and Neuroscience : Theoretical and Practical Perspectives (1st ed.). Routledge.

Kopytin, A., & Lebedev, A. (2013). Humor, Self-Attitude, Emotions, and Cognitions in Group Art Therapy With War Veterans . Art Therapy, 30 (1), 20–29.

Sargent, P. D., Campbell, J. S., Richter, K. E., McLay, R. N., & Koffman, R. L. (2013). Integrative Medical Practices for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder . Psychiatric Annals, 43 (4), 181–187.

Walker, M. S., Kaimal, G., Gonzaga, A. M. L., Myers-Coffman, K. A., & DeGraba, T. J. (2017). Active-duty military service members’ visual representations of PTSD and TBI in masks . International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 12 (1), 1267317.

Reviewed by Katie Mitchell, MS, CTRS, LRT, Lyndsay Tkach, MA, CBIS, and Michelle Neary, March 2021.

The BrainLine Treatment Hub was created in consultation with TBI and PTSD experts .

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which is dedicated to ensuring that impacted post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families are thriving long after they return home.

BrainLine is a national service of WETA-TV, the flagship PBS station in Washington, D.C.

BrainLine, WETA Public Television 3939 Campbell Ave. Arlington, VA 22206 E-mail | Phone: 703.998.2020

© 2023 WETA All Rights Reserved |  Contact Us

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Creative Forces: Clinical Therapy

In clinical settings, creative arts therapists provide art, music, and dance/movement therapies, as well as therapeutic writing instruction, for military patients, veterans and their families. As part of Creative Forces, creative arts therapies augment the many different types of therapy offered as part of patient-centered clinical care. Creative arts therapies aren’t “nice to have” capabilities in this model of care, they are “NEED to HAVE” services.

Creative Forces creative arts therapists deliver an estimated 1,000 treatment sessions per year, reaching about 200 new patients every year. Typically, a patient treated by a Creative Forces creative arts therapist has multiple sessions to ensure therapeutic goals are meet. National Endowment for the Arts-supported creative arts therapists delivered more than 17,000 treatment encounters in 2019.

The Arts Endowment funds creative arts therapists, associated research and performance measurement, equipment, and supplies at selected clinical sites across the nation, including telehealth services for patients in rural and remote areas. Administrative support for this work is provided by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine. Military partners—the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs—provide a functional space for the clinical therapy sessions, patient referrals, collaboration on clinical care and research, as well as additional creative arts therapists.

Creative Forces’ telehealth component connects creative arts therapists with patients in rural and remote places via video conferencing platforms. In 2017, the Arts Endowment partnered with the Rural Veterans TeleRehabilitation Initiative, an enterprise-wide initiative of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health (ORH) to deliver rehabilitation therapies to rural veterans wherever they are. Creative Forces partnered with the RVTRI to allow it to offer music therapy via telehealth at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. Creative Forces subsequently implemented a similar program in Alaska, allowing patients from Basset Army Community Hospital in Fairbanks to receive creative arts therapies from providers working out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. In November 2019, the National Endowment for the Arts and ORH announced plans to expand the telehealth component of Creative Forces. Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center (Indianapolis, Indiana), G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center (Jackson, Mississippi), and VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System (Cleveland, Ohio) have been selected to join Creative Forces and the Rural Veterans TeleRehabilitation Initiative, in collaboration with the Veterans Health Administration Office of Rehabilitation and Prosthetics Service and National Program Office, Recreation Therapy Service, as the newest telehealth sites.

Creative arts therapies are non-invasive, non-medication-based, and reduce healthcare costs.  These treatments have wide-ranging impact:

PHYSICAL: Promotes physical rehabilitation -- improved cognition, memory, sensory-motor function, impulse control, concentration, and sleep.

EMOTIONAL: Promotes psychological health -- improved interpersonal and communication skills, management of difficult emotions (frustration, grief, anger), and reduced depression, stress, and anxiety.

ECONOMIC : Less time spent in medical care and therefore lower healthcare costs.

Stay Connected to the National Endowment for the Arts

Sterling Thomas shares details about his spinal cord injury and why he and his family chose Shepherd Center.

Our goal is to maintain the highest quality of outcomes for our patients and to present our outcomes to help inform your decision when choosing a rehabilitation provider.

Shepherd Center is a high-performing organization in metro Atlanta that offers rewarding careers in the healthcare field.

The admissions process includes the assessment of the medical, clinical and psychosocial needs of each patient and family to ensure the most appropriate level of care.

Shepherd Center offers an ongoing series of webinars for nurses, social workers, case managers and other healthcare professionals.

The annual Derby Day party is Atlanta’s biggest Kentucky Derby-themed fundraising event and a Shepherd Center tradition since 1983.

• Newsroom Shepherd Center

Art Therapy Offers Outlet for Creative Expression

Whether it’s finding a new passion, rebuilding a career or coping with emotions, the art therapy program serves creative and practical purposes.

From painting and drawing to pottery and photography, patients at Shepherd Center have many ways to express their creativity through the hospital’s art therapy program.

Arts specialists Phoebe Whisnant, M.A., ATR, and Alex Chukabarah, M.S., who oversee the art therapy program work with all patient populations: spinal cord injury (SCI), acquired brain injury (ABI), as well as those in the SHARE Military Initiative and Multiple Sclerosis Institute . They also try to accommodate every artistic interest.

“We use all kinds of mediums, and if we don’t have it, we do everything we can to either get it while the patient is still at Shepherd or provide resources to help them find it when they get home,” Chukabarah says. “We may not be able to meet every need, but if there’s a way we can get the materials, we will.”

Art therapy is part of Shepherd Center’s expansive Recreation Therapy (RT) Department and shares the overall goal of rec therapy – helping patients return to what they were doing before their injury while also discovering new interests.

Beyond serving as an outlet for creative expression, art therapy also has practical purposes. For example, if a patient is working on a specific goal, such as upper-extremity range of motion, painting can be a helpful intervention. Art therapy also is beneficial for patients who are looking to learn a new activity after their injury. They can learn how to use adaptive equipment, such as a mouth stick or a paintbrush attached to a wrist cuff. Art therapy also has positive psychological and emotional benefits, including increased self-esteem and self-awareness.

“We use art materials to express ideas, thoughts and feelings,” Chukabarah says. “Art is a nonverbal form of communication. We don’t interpret the art, but we can go back and reflect on the piece. We help them gain insight by asking the right questions.”

Chukabarah remembers a patient with a spinal cord injury who came in the art room and wanted to paint, even though he had never painted before.

“He chose a picture of a lion,” she recalls. “He was hesitant and struggled in the beginning, but as he gained control and strength, his mood brightened as the painting progressed. The process drastically improved his self-image. It was inspiring to see.”

In 2015, the department created a visiting artist program in which patients who are artists return to teach workshops.

“Not only do they get an art lesson, but it’s a great form of peer support,” Whisnant says. “They see someone thriving who has been in the exact same position that they are. It’s inspiring for them, and it’s so rewarding for us to see that.”

Whisnant and Chukabarah say that the benefits of the art therapy program include the life-affirming pleasure of making art, as well as the opportunity for patients to discover new solutions to problems and creative coping strategies that can be applied to all facets of their lives. All of it is part of the process, which, they say, they get just as much out of as the budding artists.

“The patients here are on a journey to rebuild their lives,” Whisnant says, “We are proud to be part of that journey.”

By Sara Baxter  

Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems, Shepherd Center is ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again. 

Psychosis, Art, And Expression: Exploring Creativity As A Tool For Healing

The world can sometimes seem overwhelming, a swirling storm of sensory input and internal chatter. For some individuals, this storm intensifies, reshaping how they perceive their surroundings and themselves. Strange sensations, fleeting visions, or unshakeable unease might permeate everyday life. These experiences can signal a mental state known as psychosis, which generally involves a break from reality. While navigating psychosis can be challenging, it doesn't mean creativity and self-expression will disappear. Often, these very experiences become a wellspring of unique artistic vision.

The link between psychosis and art has fascinated researchers, philosophers, and artists themselves for centuries. From the otherworldly visions of outsider artists to the works of established creators who have experienced mental illness, art can offer a helpful form of expression. For those living with psychosis, creative outlets may provide a means to process complex emotions, communicate the inexpressible, and find a sense of grounding in a world that can seem destabilizing.

For this reason, art therapy or simply engaging in artistic expression on your own might be an excellent complement to traditional treatment options like prescription antipsychotic medication and talk therapy.

Understanding psychosis

Psychosis can be confusing and disorienting. Sometimes, the ways individuals see, hear, and feel things can shift in unexpected ways. Here are some potential symptoms related to psychosis:

• Hallucinations: Perceiving things that aren't there — hearing voices, seeing visions in amorphous shapes, or experiencing unusual sensations in the body
• Delusions: Holding strong beliefs that seem at odds with reality and are resistant to change
• Disorganized thinking: Having trouble organizing thoughts, leading to fragmented or confused speech

Psychosis can be a confusing and unsettling symptom related to various mental health conditions. Understanding the "why" behind it can be incredibly helpful, guiding individuals toward the right form of treatment.

Art as a healing force

The act of creation can be inherently therapeutic. Here are a few ways that channeling challenging experiences into art can benefit those on their healing journeys:

• Externalizing the internal: Psychosis often involves an intensely personal, internal world. Painting, sculpting, writing, or other creative pursuits may give tangible form to these experiences. This externalization can offer a sense of release and make the intangible seem more manageable.
• Communication and connection: Finding words to describe the nuances of psychotic experiences can be challenging. Art may offer an alternative language, one that can bridge the gap between the artist and those who support them. Sharing artwork can foster deeper understanding and connection with loved ones and therapists.
• Control and mastery: Psychosis can be disorienting and chaotic. Creating art may offer a space for controlled expression. The simple act of choosing colors, applying brushstrokes, or shaping words can instill a sense of agency and control.

Countless artists throughout history have found solace and expression through their work while navigating mental illness. Some, labeled “outsider artists,” created works outside of the mainstream art world, their work often characterized by raw emotion and unique visual language. Others, like Vincent van Gogh and Yayoi Kusama, achieved mainstream recognition while living with mental health challenges like psychosis and schizophrenia.

These examples can offer inspiration and a sense of solidarity for those navigating psychosis. They may demonstrate that mental illness doesn't prevent individuals from having fulfilling and creative lives. If anything, these experiences can shape art in profound and compelling ways.

Psychosis can seem overwhelming, but within that overwhelming experience, there may be a spark of creative potential. Art can create a bridge between inner experiences and the outside world. It can make the invisible visible, the unspoken heard, and the chaotic slightly more manageable. For those navigating psychosis, creative expression may offer a path toward healing and rediscovering their unique voice.

The potential benefits: What research tells us

Researchers are exploring the power of art in relation to healing for patients with psychosis. Some studies suggest that engaging in art-based activities can promote the following:

• Symptom reduction: Creative expression might lessen the intensity of hallucinations or delusions. It could offer a healthy outlet and distraction from distressing symptoms.
• Enhanced mood and well-being: The simple act of channeling energy into creating something can boost self-esteem, counter feelings of isolation, and promote an overall sense of well-being, allowing for greater mental focus.
• Improved treatment outcomes: Some therapists incorporate art into their treatment plans alongside traditional therapies like CBT. This combined approach can deepen self-understanding and foster helpful coping mechanisms.

The potential benefits don’t just involve emotions, either. Research suggests that engaging in art might directly impact the challenges associated with psychosis . Studies hint at the possibility of art reducing the intensity of symptoms, boosting mood, and becoming a valuable tool alongside other treatment approaches. Art can offer a path toward feeling better and finding new ways to cope.

How to start: Finding your creative outlet

Starting anything new can be both exciting and a little scary. If exploring art stirs up some mixed emotions, that's okay. The key may be to find creative activities that feel good and start with gentle exploration. 

• Start small and simple: There's no need to create masterpieces. What matters most may be the process itself. Simple activities like doodling, coloring, or playing with clay can offer low-pressure entry points.
• Let go of judgment: The goal isn't necessarily to make perfect art. Embracing experimentation and self-expression can give you permission to play and explore without the pressure of external expectations.
• Seek guidance: Attending art therapy sessions or workshops can be helpful, especially at the beginning of your journey. A licensed art therapist can provide a supportive environment and help you unlock the power of your creativity.

Feeling a bit nervous to start your artistic journey can be okay. However, exploring your creativity can be empowering. If you'd like some guidance or a supportive environment, art therapy sessions and workshops can offer helpful places to begin.

Examining Lowenfeld's Theories and His Contributions to the Field of Art Therapy

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Viktor Lowenfeld developed six distinct stages of development in his book Creative and Mental Growth. Currently there is limited information on the formation of these stages and the connection to their use in art therapy. The intent of this thesis was to synthesize information on the formation and methodology of Lowenfeld’s developmental artistic stages in order to understand Lowenfeld’s contributions to the field of art therapy. A systematic literature review was conducted to gather current and archival resources related to Viktor Lowenfeld, his methods of research, his theory on artistic development, and his relevance to the field of art therapy. Research was collected from Indiana University Purdue University library resources and Pennsylvania State University Archives. Findings showed that Lowenfeld developed his theory based on other theorists of his era. Each theorist contributed to either his stage theory design or general concepts of certain stages. According to record, Lowenfeld developed his theories in the 1940’s, and these were based off his work with children in Austria and the United States. There is no available information on the demographics or the method Lowenfeld used to collect information about the children he worked with. There have been augmentations since Lowenfeld’s death in an attempt to keep information in later editions relevant. Lowenfeld’s work has been historically called upon in the profession of art therapy. As the field of art therapy continues to evolve, there is a need for evidence based theories to substantiate what has been relied upon in the past. Levick’s stages of artistic development are evidence based however more information needs to be gathered. Future recommendations are for art therapists to conduct systematic research on children’s artwork and create a normative base of children’s artwork based on current demographics and societal changes.

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Ahead of Nashville show, Katie Pruitt's sophomore album has taught her the art of letting go

Nashville singer-songwriter Katie Pruitt's star continues to rise with the release of her sophomore album, "Mantras."

On Thursday, she'll be back in town to perform at the Brooklyn Bowl for her first time headlining the venue.

The soulful Americana musician—known for songs "Out of the Blue," "Expectations" and "Self Sabotage"—has been hitting the road on tour, promoting her new record. She recently performed at Stagecoach Festival and has toured through Canada, the West, Texas and more.

Pruitt has opened for Brandi Carlile, My Morning Jacket, Shakey Graves, The Milk Carton Kids and The Wood Brothers on tour. She'll head out on tour again this summer, this time in support of Lake Street Dive .

On May 23, she will perform one of the final shows of her current tour in Nashville, her home city for the past decade.

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Katie Pruitt says therapy influenced her newest album

Pruitt's new album finds her reflecting on her religious upbringing in Atlanta, GA, her queerness and the importance of letting go of the past for growth.

Her soaring voice becomes the perfect vehicle to tell her story, sometimes backed by mandolins and plucky acoustic guitar.

Pruitt started writing songs for her new album two years ago. After the release of her debut album "Expectations" in 2020, she wasn't having the smoothest time crafting her next project.

It turned out the challenges were a blessing in disguise.

"Along the way, I just had some personal struggles and some hardships and kind of hit some roadblocks in my personal life and sought therapy," Pruitt said.

She was grappling with her past, making peace with some religious trauma, and working through a breakup after a longterm relationship. She said therapy was an eye-opening experience for her.

"I think I was being particularly hard on myself, especially since it was like my sophomore record. I was kind of putting worlds of pressure on myself and forgot like, 'Oh yeah, music is supposed to be fun.'"

So Pruitt placed the songs she wrote earlier towards the top of the record, bringing her listeners along with her as she grappled with the same themes she worked through outside of the studio in therapy. Throughout the album, more of that work finds its way into the lyrics.

Halfway through the record, Pruitt's "Blood Related" finds her reflecting on spending time with her family amid fighting for their acceptance after she came out.

"On my first record, there's a particularly intense song called "Georgia" about my parents...not accepting me when I first came out," Pruitt said. "As I've gotten older—and I'm lucky that they do now accept me for who I am—but we still don't agree on lot of issues."

Pruitt finds that sweet spot on "Blood Related," capturing tensions but also the love she holds for her family.

"Getting older, I had to realize they're not going to be around forever," she said. "Time is not slowing down. And like I want to try and relate to them and just spend time with them while I can."

"Naive Again" brings her audience back to a place of longing—life isn't an easy fantasy, she tells her listeners.

Pruitt wistfully sings, "I don't believe in fairytales / Now that I've seen behind the veil / No pot of gold, no man upstairs / Just piles of bills and unanswered prayers."

But Pruitt doesn't end her album on a note of yearning.

Listeners hear the peace in her growing. In her final track "Standstill," Pruitt's gliding voice sings of the importance of standing still.

"Even though you can't control an outcome—that can be anxiety inducing, but it can also be just as freeing, just as liberating to be like, 'Okay, I can't control it. So I may as well just be present,'" she said.

Katie Pruitt champions Nashville's creative scene

When she isn't in the studio, Pruitt spends much of her time in Music City longboarding and getting out into nature. One of Pruitt's favorite parts of living in Nashville, though, is her "rich community of musician friends."

"(I've got) people that I can lean on if I need strings cut on something, background vocals or guitar. Just so many talented, amazing people at my disposal," she said, emphasizing the city's never-ending spirit of collaboration.

She sang the praises of her musician friends Courtney Marie Andrews and Jess Nolan. She added that her musical influences include locals Jason Isbell and Ruston Kelly, who took Pruitt on one of her first big tours as the opener.

"Rustin Kelly's been kind of a big brother figure for me for a long time," she said.

And now, Pruitt's planning big things for her Thursday Brooklyn Bowl show with her Nashville music community in mind.

"I've been looking forward to that show for a while now. So I'm gonna think I'm gonna bring out a string section and make it really special," she said.

"I think it'll be special to look out in the crowd and see people that have supported me through times of my life that were particularly hard. Standing on the stage and singing some of the songs...I think it's going to be really healing."

To learn more about Katie Pruitt and her upcoming show, head to katiepruitt.com .

What Is Art Therapy?

Understand arts efficacy and place in therapy..

Posted April 9, 2024 | Reviewed by Ray Parker

• What Is Therapy?
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• Art therapy is often coupled with psychotherapy as part of an integrative approach to therapy.
• Art can provide patients who struggle to verbalize trauma or emotions with alternative means of communication.
• Studies have found that art therapy can help with symptoms of anxiety and depression in some populations.

Art therapy is defined by the American Art Therapy Association as utilizing “active art-making, the creative process, and applied psychological theory—within a psychotherapeutic relationship—to enrich the lives of individuals, families, and communities.” Often practiced in tandem with psychotherapy , art therapy is nonpharmacological and can be used as a medical intervention for mental disorders. Art therapy is an integrative practice, as it encourages alternative methods of communication and expression. In doing so, art therapy is also capable of helping “ to improve cognitive and sensorimotor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience , promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and advance societal and ecological change.” There are many different ways of participating in art therapy, such as dance movement psychotherapy, music therapy, and drawing, painting, and craft therapy.

The History of Art Therapy

For most of human history, art has been an important method of communicating events, ideas, and stories. Closely connected to the expression of emotions, the term “art therapy” first emerged in 1942 when patients suffering from tuberculosis found freedom through drawing and painting. Art therapy practices soon moved into the mental health realm with the foundation of the British Association of Art Therapists in 1964. As art therapy gained traction around the world, it was implemented alongside child psychotherapy. The creation of art helped children express their feelings despite their “ underdeveloped or limited vocabulary .” It quickly became a treatment for patients with trauma , grief , anxiety , and a range of other mental health disorders.

The Efficacy of Art Therapy

In 2022, a report was produced by the Australian, New Zealand, and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association called The Proven Efficacy of Creative Arts Therapies: What the Literature Tells Us . Created by Deanna Gray, the report is a compilation of over 40 peer-reviewed research articles that center around the use of creative arts as therapy. The library of research supporting the efficacy of art therapy has only continued to grow in the years since the report was published. One such study led by Khadeja Alwledat found that just four sessions of creative art therapy had a statistically significant positive impact on the levels of depression , anxiety, and stress of the participants, all of whom were within three months post-stroke diagnosis. This wide array of research behind art therapy is accompanied by the establishment of initiatives, such as the NeuroArts Blueprint, and outreach projects like the University of Michigan’s Prison Creative Arts Project.

The Blueprint is an interdisciplinary initiative that is working to “break new ground at the crossroads of science, the arts, and technology.” It is building a community of individuals and organizations who are invested in advancing the use of arts and aesthetic experiences as tools to improve health and well-being. In 2021, the Blueprint was released as an “authoritative, first-of-its-kind roadmap” to advance brain science research, policy, and funding and to catalyze and mobilize “the full power of art.”

Along with the Blueprint, some institutions have begun creating projects to acknowledge the efficacy of art therapy, as well as promote the use of art therapy across their campuses. The Prison Creative Arts Project at the University of Michigan is a program within the Residential College that provides academic training in “issues surrounding incarceration and practical skills in the arts.” This project sends a newsletter to over 1,800 recipients, informing them of upcoming programs and events. By reaching out to those impacted by the justice system and bringing them together with the University of Michigan community, the Prison Creative Arts Project promotes “artistic collaboration , mutual learning, and growth.”

How to Become an Art Therapist

In order to become an art therapist, one must complete a master’s degree in a related field, become board-certified through the Art Therapy Credentials Board , and complete “100 hours of supervised work along with 600 hours of a clinical internship.” Students looking to become art therapists must take graduate-level courses in topics such as the creative process, psychological development, psychodiagnostics, and art therapy assessment. Beyond this, they will also receive training in studio art methods such as drawing, painting, and sculpture. Students should choose a program that is approved by the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the American Art Therapy Association (AATA). These well-renowned programs enable students to pursue national credentialing and licensure after graduation.

At its core, a degree in art therapy is a research-based discipline that “combines active art-making, the creative process, applied psychological theory, and the human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.” These hours of training provide art therapists with the ability to work with diverse populations and to support their clients through a wide range of challenges.

Searching for an Art Therapist

When looking for an art therapist as a patient, first make sure that the individual has completed either a CAAHEP-accredited or AATA-approved program. From there, choosing an art therapist is a matter of personal preference. Generally, the first time that you meet with an art therapist will be similar to any therapy intake session: they will ask you multiple questions about your background and experiences, and you will have the opportunity to ask them any questions, as well. You will want to choose someone with whom you feel comfortable and at ease. It is completely acceptable not to schedule another session with a therapist if there is something you do not like. Keep in mind that going to see an art therapist is meant to benefit you solely; thus, the choice is entirely yours.

Encouraging Art Therapy

For therapists, the question of whether it makes clinical sense to encourage a patient to look into art therapy depends on a variety of factors. If the patient struggles to verbalize trauma, art therapy may provide them with a better means of communication. As another example, if a patient is evasive and artistically inclined, allowing them to express themselves through art may help break down barriers, allowing them to become more cooperative.

While art therapy may exist outside of conventional clinical frameworks, therapists should recognize that it is an option from which many patients may benefit and an established method of therapy.

Samoon Ahmad, M.D. is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine; Unit Chief, Inpatient Psychiatry, Bellevue Hospital Center; and Founder of Integrative Center for Wellness in New York City.

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At any moment, someone’s aggravating behavior or our own bad luck can set us off on an emotional spiral that threatens to derail our entire day. Here’s how we can face our triggers with less reactivity so that we can get on with our lives.

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