what is art therapy? presented by cara levitt, m.s. atr-bc registered board certified art therapist

What is Art Therapy?

Presented by Cara Levitt, M.S. ATR-BCRegistered Board Certified Art Therapist

About Me.

• Cara E. Levitt, MS, ATR-BC, is a Board Certified Registered Art Therapist

• Experience working with a variety of challenging children, adolescents and families.

• Born and raised in Sarasota Florida• Graduated from Eastern Virginia Medical

School's Art Therapy Masters Program in 2005.

Art Therapy is….

• Using the processes and products of art making to express emotions, find creative solutions and improve quality of life.

• Used with all ages from preschool to geriatrics.• All populations and it can address a variety

mental health problems.• It can help build social skills, coping skills,

problem solving skills.

Products

• Assessments– analyzing projective drawings• Diagnostically• Developmentally

• Reflection– Looking at the artwork.– Discussing the artwork.– See the metaphors relate it to life.

• Tangible Success

Art Therapy Projective Imagery Assessment (AT-PIA)

• Projective Scribble- measures creativity• Favorite Weather- environment/mood• Human Figure- self concept/developmental• Kinetic Family- Family dynamics• Reason for Being Here- defenses/problems• Free Choice- closure/recovery• Used by trained professionals only.

Processes

• The process of art making can be therapeutic.• Self soothing, teaches how to self regulate • Builds coping skills• Outlet for emotions• Cathartic- release of emotions• Container- holds the emotions

Expressive Therapies Continuum

• Structured-----------------------------Unstructured• Controlled------------------------------Uncontrolled• Ridged-----------------------------------------Fluid• Dry Materials------------------------Wet Materials• Pencils, crayons, markers,oil pastels,chalk

pastels, glue, play dough watercolors, paints, paper mache, wet clay.

Try this at home to unlock your creativity

• Scribble freely on the page• Look at this scribble from all directions• See if you can find an image, and object or

shape.• Outline this shape and use other colors to

develop the scribble into a picture.• Place a title on the back.

Contact Info

• Cara Levitt,M.S., ATR-BC• caralevitt@gmail.com• 941-957-8130• Draw it Out! Art Therapy • 200 S Washington Blvd 4A• Sarasota, FL 34236