Art Therapy
The Healing Power of Art Therapy
Art therapy is an evidence-based therapy modality that combines psychotherapy with art making to help people process emotions, increase self-awareness, and manage psychological issues. Whether it be via paint, clay, or collage, this therapy is a verbal and visual method of healing and expression. No past artistic experience is necessary — just a willingness to be creative. During an art therapy session, the client creates art in addition to talking to their therapist, allowing both verbal and visual expression to be used to promote healing. Artmaking taps into the unconscious, allowing difficult-to-articulate ideas to appear. This procedure assists individuals in confronting emotions, reducing stress, and understanding their ideas and behaviours.
History of Art Therapy
For ages, societies worldwide have used art to advance healing; however, the actual field of art therapy grew in the middle of the 20th century. Adrian Hill, a British artist, created the term in 1942 after realising that painting had beneficial effects on patients healing from disease. The art psychotherapy profession started in the United States with artists like Margaret Naumburg and Hanna Kwiatkowska.
Who Can Benefit from Art Therapy?
Art therapy has been shown to help persons dealing with:
- Anxiety and Depression
- PTSD and Trauma
- Substance Abuse
- Eating disorders
- Chronic illness
- Cognitive impairments
- Relationship and Family Issues
- Any other issues typically addressed in therapy
Common Art Therapy Techniques
Certified art therapists employ a few strategies that change to meet everyone’s needs. Some popular ways are:
- Painting and Drawing
- Sculpture and Pottery
- Doodling and Scribbling
- Making collages
- Textile Art and Cardmaking
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are the sessions?
Our art and verbal psychotherapy sessions are typically 45 minutes; EMDR sessions are typically 55 minutes.
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes! Most of our sessions are conducted via a secure telehealth platform. We do have some in person availability as well.
What happens in an art therapy session?
In an art therapy session, you will be creating art while talking to your therapist. They may give you guidance on what to create, or it may be free form; either way, your therapist will be talking with you & guiding you throughout.
Do I have to make art?
No! You can choose to make art every week, on occasion, or never at all. You and your therapist will determine what the best course of treatment will be.
What if I’m not an artist?
Anyone can do art therapy – absolutely no artistic skill is required. Art therapy is much more focused on the process, not the product; this means that the process of making the artwork is much more important than the end result.
What happens in an EMDR session?
Your therapist will first explore your trauma history with you so they can focus treatment accordingly. Then the sessions will consist of either you tapping your upper arms or watching a screen as dots pass by in order to access the trauma-based neural network. We know this can sound odd! Please don’t hesitate to reach out and we can provide much more information.
How much do sessions cost?
45 minute sessions are $250, and 55 minute sessions are $275.
Do you accept insurance?
We are proud to be paneled with Aetna, Cigna, and Healthfirst, and enjoy serving folks on Medicaid. However, we are only able to reserve a certain number of slots for insurance clients, so please reach out to inquire if we have that availability. Please also note that many insurances offer benefits for out of network providers!
What is your cancellation policy?
In you have to cancel less than 24 hours before your appointment, you will be charged the full session fee. This is due our inability to offer the slot to another client.
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