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Overview: Art therapy

During the last ten years, art therapy has grown to be recognised as a major force in the complementary care of seriously ill patients.

The British Association of Art Therapists defines art therapy as: a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of communication.

People who are referred to an art therapist need not have previous experience or skill in art, the art therapist is not primarily concerned with making an aesthetic or diagnostic assessment of the person's image. The overall aim of its practitioners is to enable a person to effect change and growth on a personal level through the use of art materials in a safe and facilitating environment.

The relationship between the therapist and the individual is of central importance, but art therapy differs from other psychological therapies in that it is a three way process between the individual, the therapist and the image or artefact. It therefore offers the opportunity for expression and communication and can be particularly helpful to people who find it hard to express their thoughts and feelings verbally. (see The British Association of Art Therapists).

As Camilla Connell, author of 'Something Understood, Art Therapy In Cancer Care' says:

'Before the written word was part of our heritage, art was used to communicate spiritual and psychological truths. Imagery has always been central to the dissemination of traditional knowledge. When we regard works of art - such as those of the Egyptians, or the early Italian period - we feel that something was understood by its makers. It is hard to express these feelings in words, but the life in these art works is still being transmitted to us even in our time.'

As the title of her book suggests, 'what more could be hoped for, in the face of the mystery of our existence, that something should be understood?'

Art therapy allows you to make some sense of your illness or problem.

I found Camilla Connell through synchronicity. While I was undergoing my cancer treatment in 2002, I was searching for a creative therapy which would give me an outlet for my feelings. I didn't know exactly what I was looking for, but I did know that I wanted it to be a creative therapy. Writing in my journal wasn't helpful as it was too left brained.When I came across the words, 'art therapy' in a cancer directory, I knew I had stumbled upon what I was looking for. I contacted The British Association of Art Therapists who put me in touch with Camilla. She was my art therapist for a year, and together we explored the meaning and depth of my feelings and experiences in the paint.

If you are looking for an art therapist in the UK and the USA, I recommend contacting the following people:

The British Association of Art Therapists http://www.baat.org

The American Art Therapy Association http://www.arttherapy.org/

Chec k out noticeboards in good health shops as practitioners often post their business cards

Visit your local mind, body and spirit festival as art therapists will attend these

If you would like to order a copy of Camilla Connell's book, Something Understood, please contact me via my blog.

Art therapy has given me a deeper understanding of myself, and I highly recommend it as a creative therapy.

Learn more about this author, Amanda Seyderhelm.
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