Art therapy has been proven to help clients access thoughts and feelings in a new way. Art making is done in session and is used as a jumping off point for exploration and discussion. Art therapy has been shown to help clients build greater self-awareness, move through trauma and anxious feelings in a powerful way, enhance coping skills, and lead to improvements in communication and self-expression. Art therapy can be provided individually, in family therapy, or in groups and workshops.

According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is particularly effective during times of crisis, changes in circumstance, trauma, and grief.You don’t have to be an artist or even “artsy” to make art. Everyone is creative. Art therapists are credentialed mental health professionals. They are trained to use art media and creative processes to help people cope with mental health challenges.

Art therapy 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.