What is Art Therapy?

By Karen Gandy-Biferno, Ph.D.

“What is Art Therapy?” For our purpose, at this web site, Art is any form of creative expression of one’s feelings or emotions. As a matter of convenience, we break Art down into three major categories – Visual Art, Literary Art, and Performing Art. We have listed only a few for each category, but please know that these are only examples; the possibilities are endless.

Visual Art:
Painting, drawing, graphic arts, photography, collage, photo
gallery,
scrapbook, cartoons, computer graphics

Literary Art:
Poetry, books, short stories, journaling, letters, blogs (weblogs)

Performing Art:
Plays (Civic Theater), music (playing, writing, singing),
dance,
sculpting, pottery, candle making, gardening, making
presentations

For many, creative expressions are done privately with no other person ever being aware of their creations. The creative process, over time, can be healing in and of itself. These creative processes are not related to talent – it is just about expression; expression of what is inside the heart and mind, and putting it out into the external world. It is a way to the express emotions and feelings about life events that affect us, sometimes deeply; for which we have no words. Without these avenues of expression, emotions and feelings remain buried, deep down in our soul and heart. They then have the opportunity to alter our lives, sometimes forever – sometimes in very damaging ways.

Art Therapy utilizes whatever form of creative expression you choose as a way to promote healing with guidance and input from others (trained therapists and lay-responders are both helpful). Often times the lay-responder has had the same or similar emotional response to an event in their life and can connect to your art in a very personal way. This is a way that gives you the message that you are not alone; someone is there who has been on the same road. A trained therapist has the knowledge, training, and experience to guide you through your healing journey, to walk beside you on your path.

This web site offers you the opportunity to post your creative expressions and gain feedback from others. The process is very simple. Send us a short e-mail with a description of your Healing Art. We will help you post it to our site where you can ask for feedback from others who are posting and from trained therapists. We are not art critics; this process is about emotion, feeling, and heart. All creative works will be viewed as labors of the soul, in a welcoming environment. We hope you will feel free to join us in these healing activities.