Art as Therapy

A link between psychology and art

Art
art
1 [ahrt] Show IPA noun 1. the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance. 2. the class of objects subject to aesthetic criteria; works of art collectively, as paintings, sculptures, or drawings: a museum of art; an art collection. See fine art, commercial art. 3. a field, genre, or category of art: Dance is an art. 4. the fine arts collectively, often excluding architecture: art and architecture. 5. any field using the skills or techniques of art: advertising art; industrial art. 6. a branch of learning or university study, especially one of the fine arts or the humanities, as music, philosophy, or literature: She was adept at the arts of music and painting; I've always felt an affinity towards the visual arts, though I studied art of philosophy.

Therapy
therapy
[ther-uh-pee] Show IPA noun, plural therapies. 1. the treatment of disease or disorders, as by some remedial, rehabilitating, or curative process: speech therapy. 2. a curative power or quality. 3. psychotherapy. 4. any act, hobby, task, program, etc., that relieves tension.

Art Therapy?
art therapy
noun a type of psychotherapy that encourages the expression of emotions through artistic activities such as painting, drawing, or sculpture; psychotherapy based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and lifeenhancing.

What is Art For?

Cathy Malchiodi wrote this article in Psychology Today The article mentions Ellen Dissanayakes view that art is "making special" and applies it to art as a viable form of therapy

What is Art For?

http://www.arttherapy-co.org/ataco/images/Art-Materials-photo-1.jp http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u40/GroupArtTherapy_0.jpgg

Outcome Studies on the Efficacy of Art Therapy: A Review of Findings

Sarah C. Slayton, Jeanne DArcher, and Frances Kaplans joint article in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association Continuation of the review of art therapy literature that Reynolds, Nabors, and Quinlan did

Outcome Studies on the Efficacy of Art Therapy: A Review of Findings

Breaks down how art therapy helps people Art therapy may have become a necessary treatment for complex trauma

Outcome Studies on the Efficacy of Art Therapy: A Review of Findings

Broke up studies of art therapy into three groups: single-subject pre/posttest design, control treatment group without random assignment, and clinical trials with random assignment of groups.

The Link
The article "What is Art For?" and the paper Outcome Studies on the Efficacy of Art Therapy: A Review of Findings both speak of art therapy as a necessary thing.

Art Therapy in Action

Questions?

References
Slayton MA, S. C., D'Archer MA, J., & Kaplan DA, F. (2011). Outcome studies on the efficacy of art therapy: A review of findings. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 27(3), 108-118. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07421656.2010.10129660 Malchiodi, C. (2011, July 31). psychologytoday.com. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-healingarts/201107/what-is-art