The History of Art Therapy

Art therapy is designed to stimulate the creative process in order to heal. Many believe that this process, used as medicine, is a treatment of the soul. For hundreds of years individuals have used art as a way to document their emotions and as a form of release from the everyday stressors of their lives, long before the actual practice of art therapy came about. "When the soul is lost, art comes spontaneously to its assistance. When the soul is depressed, isolated, mad, and distraught, artistic images appear. People without a background in art begin to create in response to their suffering" (McNiff 16). This is a normal reaction for people who do not participate in art on a regular basis. The art serves as a ray of light amongst the confusion and stressors of the world. "The creative imagination acts spontaneously as its own savior. When the intensity of the emotional unrest subsides, so does the art" (McNiff 16). This process in and of itself enhances ones own cognitive ability.

Many aspects of art therapy are influenced by and directly relate back to the Christian and Buddhist art of meditating and imagery. They focused on art as a healing factor for the world, rather than just the individual. This methodology has changed and further developed over time. Hundreds of years ago European writers recorded the spontaneous artwork done by patients in mental institutions (Ganim 23). They concluded that this work served as a form of expression for the emotions felt by the patients that could not have otherwise been expressed in words or in a traditional form of therapy. These paintings and drawings revealed parts of the inner-self, and were representative of traumatic occurrences that may have taken place in that particular person's life. From this, they began to experiment with different art modalities, and in different settings.

The development of modern day art therapy has greatly changed from its original concept. " In its formative years in the U.S., from the early 1930's through the middle 1950's, art therapy was practiced by fine artists and art educators in medical, psychiatric and educational facilities" (Art Therapy Overview). The use of art as therapy had been around for hundreds of years, but had not been recognized as an actual artistic therapeutic process. "These artists, and their medical and educational colleagues, discovered that non-verbal and pre-verbal patients "came alive" as they made art, and the "language" of the art, i.e., the symbolic image, could be understood. Art opened windows and doors into the psyche" (Art Therapy Overview). The new forms of expression allowed for a deeper understanding between the patient and the therapist. Often times individuals are unable to express themselves through formal means of communication, and the art serves as a way to break down those communicational barriers. The idea of art as therapy has been drawn and influenced by areas such as psychology, sociology, physiology, education, and psychiatric counseling. As a psychotherapy practice, art therapy spans the same theoretical landscapes as psychology, social work, and counseling. "It reflects the history and development of psychotherapy in general, including changing understanding and preferences in modern practice" (Art Therapy Overview). This belief, though it may be difficult to understand, connects aspects of the soul that may have been lost as a result of instances in ones life.

Art therapy is based on the belief that the process of using creativity to heal is life enhancing and promotes self-awareness. The basis of this type of therapy is a connection between the mind, body, and spirit. It is believed that these essential components, along with a willingness to grow and form a connection with the inner psyche, are what truly heal the individual. " These mental processes and physical actions create opportunities for the client to become aware of anomalies in thinking and feeling, and to create expanded options for viewing, clarifying, and making meaning of their feelings and beliefs and the events in their lives" (Art Therapy Overview). Art therapy is a process that intervenes art with psychology. "It is a philosophy and method of fully engaging art with life and psyche. Art becomes a ritual act that opens people to the experience of the soul. The art object is a psychic tool rather than a commercial commodity, and the aesthetic contemplation of painting is encouraged as a way to experience surrealism" (McNiff 22).

In general, there are certain steps taken in the actual therapeutic process. These basic concepts come from essential components including selecting the actual materials that are to be used, creating a visual image that is then analyzed by both the teacher and the creator, contemplating the meaning of the work having just been created, and finally, describing the sensation that came along with that creation. These steps are altered depending on the situational therapy, but remain along the same basis. The creation of art can provide an extension of the client's self that enlarges the client's ability to be self-observing. It provides physical and emotional benefits for the creator and the viewer.

It is not necessary for a person to be an artist to participate in art therapy, which is a common assumption. The ability to make a simple mark on a paper allows for the art aspect of art therapy. No two people look at a piece of art and view it the same way. Therefore, no one person can determine whether or not a piece of artwork is good or bad because everything is different. That is what makes art and the contemplation of that art so empowering. There are no wrong answers. Art is only as good as the meaning and the emotion behind the piece. The viewer is what gives the art life. Without meaning, it is nothing more than a mark on a paper. If society attempts to label a piece of art by one frame of reference then we completely diminish its entire purpose. Art is meant to be understood by many different forms. It is the thought process behind the work that makes it inspirational and meaningful. In that respect, there are no wrong answer to what a piece of art represents. What an individual perceives as the meaning of the artwork is based on their lives and experiences that have shaped the person they are. One person may view a piece of art as being depressive and desolate, while another may look at that same piece and find it to be lively and inspiring.

Rather than the art itself, it is the healing and understanding of self-expression with a willingness to change that is the difficult part of the process. This is often times extremely difficult for people who have lived their entire lives with certain personality patterns that may contradict