An Introduction toArt Therapy

What is Art Therapy?- According to the British Association of Art

Therapists it is.. ‘ ...a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of communication. It is practised by qualified, registered Art Therapists who work with children, young people, adults and the elderly. Clients who can use art therapy have a wide range of difficulties, disabilities or diagnoses. These include, for example emotional, behavioural or mental health problems, learning or physical disabilities, life-limiting conditions, brain-injury or neurological conditions and physical illness’

What is Art Therapy?-According to the American Art Therapy Association it

is.. 

‘...a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behaviour and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. A goal in art therapy is to improve or restore a client’s functioning and his or her sense of personal well-being. Art therapy practice requires knowledge of visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art forms) and the creative process, as well as of human development, psychological, and counselling theories and techniques.’

Okay, but what does that all mean?

But when did this all start?Research has shown that art has been

used for therapeutic purposes since the earliest humans existed. Example: Some cave drawings were used to express feelings surrounding deaths in a community.

However, art therapy as a stand alone profession emerged in the 1940’s in response to the growing ‘moral treatment’ trend of the 18th and 19th Century.

Key Figures in the Beginning of British & American Art TherapyBRITAIN:Adrian Hill (1895 –

1977)

Michael Edwards (1930 -2010)

Edward Adamson (31 May 1911 - 3

February 1996)

AMERICA:Margaret Naumberg

(1890-1983)

Edith Kramer (1916-2014)

Edward AdamsonThe ‘Father of Art Therapy’.Also the first artist to work fully in a long term mental institution.Collected art work of clients which exceeds over 6,000 pieces in the Adamson Collection.

William KurelekCanadian artist William Kurelek came to the UK in 1952 in search of treatment for his psychological problems, which were rooted in his troubled childhood.

He was initially admitted to Maudsley Psychiatric Hospital and then transferred to Netherne to work with Adamson between 1953 and 1955 .

I Spit On Life‘I spit on life’ features 13 vignettes from Kurelek’s life, including scenes from his family home of Ukrainian immigrants in Canda, later events in England, and his studio in Netherne. On his arrival at the hospital, Kurelek was too disturbed to work in a shared studio with other patients, and Adamson provided a separate small space for his use.

The Ball of Twine And Other Nonsense

-“I have never really been mad. I was only fooling. I had you all on the end of a piece of string all the time!"- A true schizophrenic or a liar? 

Adamson Collection Examples

Art Therapy 101Draw a Person Test (DAP)3D Model AnalysisRoad Mapping  

Forms of Art TherapyDraw-A-Person Test (DAP)

Sculpture/Model Analysis

Road Mapping

21st Century Art TherapyArt therapy is no longer limited to mental

institutions.Available to cancer victims, prisoners, AIDS

sufferers plus many more.Gender, racial, cultural variations now taken

into consideration as seen in Asian art therapy approaches.

Red Vs Yellow Flags

Are there any Questions?