LIVING IN COLOR
Art Therapy
Every picture tells a story! Art therapy utilizes images, symbols, creativity, and imagination to communicate through visual means with the use of diverse art materials and media. The art expression helps you to express yourself, increase self-awareness and autonomy, to self-actualize, tap into creativity, improve intuition, problem-solve, regulate emotions, and reduce stress. The intentional use of art as a therapeutic intervention enhances your well-being on a wholistic level while engaging all of your senses.
Art expression is explored with an experienced art therapist in a non-judgmental atmosphere. No art experience is necessary. The premise of art therapy is authentic expression. It provides an opportunity to explore personal concerns, limiting beliefs, potentials and opportunities through a creative, enjoyable, and safe outlet.
Art therapy is ideal for most clients, however, those that are committed to change, growth, and self-awareness most benefit. Children, adolescents, and adults all benefit from the art therapy process.
For more information on Art Therapy:
Canadian Art Therapy Association - http://www.catainfo.ca/
American Art Therapy Association - http://www.arttherapy.org/
Art expression is explored with an experienced art therapist in a non-judgmental atmosphere. No art experience is necessary. The premise of art therapy is authentic expression. It provides an opportunity to explore personal concerns, limiting beliefs, potentials and opportunities through a creative, enjoyable, and safe outlet.
Art therapy is ideal for most clients, however, those that are committed to change, growth, and self-awareness most benefit. Children, adolescents, and adults all benefit from the art therapy process.
For more information on Art Therapy:
Canadian Art Therapy Association - http://www.catainfo.ca/
American Art Therapy Association - http://www.arttherapy.org/
Benefits of Art Therapy
Art therapy benefits clients in a number of different ways:
1. Drawing Outside the Lines: Creativity and Imagination
Art therapy cultivates an environment for creativity to occur. It increases your creative potential and allows you to enter into a state of using imagination to improve your health and well-being. Art therapy helps you to focus your energy and attention on creativity enabling you to tap into new ways of thinking and being in the world. Art therapy honors creativity and encourages original thinking, thereby, empowering you to make your own healthy life choices and decisions. Researchers propose that a creative individual possesses the ability to be autonomous, flexible, self-accepting, assertive, resourceful, and persistent. Creativity and imagination have therapeutic value and lead to positive mental health and optimal functioning.
2. Inner Truth
Self-understanding is gained by externalizing and exposing internal processes through art-making. Inner truth is authentically expressed without censorship, criticism, or disparagement. Truth and acceptance of the present moment is a vital first step that leads to change and transformation. Art therapy is a safe and effective approach to getting to know yourself and learning new ways of coping and managing with issues and concerns that otherwise seem unclear and ambiguous.
3. Mind-body Connection
Art therapy has an influence on the mind-body connection whereby a relaxed physiological response can be experienced. It can engage the body’s relaxation response further encouraging emotional stability, reducing stress and anxiety, and acting as a form of meditation.
In general, art therapy engages all of one's senses, and is a good alternative to verbal therapy. It is an effective form of therapy that is experiential and gets to the core of the issue quickly and efficiently. Some positive features of art therapy include that it (a) reduces stress; (b) increases the relaxation response; (c) increases mindfulness; and (d) is enjoyable and safe.
Please email any questions to info@livingincolor.ca
1. Drawing Outside the Lines: Creativity and Imagination
Art therapy cultivates an environment for creativity to occur. It increases your creative potential and allows you to enter into a state of using imagination to improve your health and well-being. Art therapy helps you to focus your energy and attention on creativity enabling you to tap into new ways of thinking and being in the world. Art therapy honors creativity and encourages original thinking, thereby, empowering you to make your own healthy life choices and decisions. Researchers propose that a creative individual possesses the ability to be autonomous, flexible, self-accepting, assertive, resourceful, and persistent. Creativity and imagination have therapeutic value and lead to positive mental health and optimal functioning.
2. Inner Truth
Self-understanding is gained by externalizing and exposing internal processes through art-making. Inner truth is authentically expressed without censorship, criticism, or disparagement. Truth and acceptance of the present moment is a vital first step that leads to change and transformation. Art therapy is a safe and effective approach to getting to know yourself and learning new ways of coping and managing with issues and concerns that otherwise seem unclear and ambiguous.
3. Mind-body Connection
Art therapy has an influence on the mind-body connection whereby a relaxed physiological response can be experienced. It can engage the body’s relaxation response further encouraging emotional stability, reducing stress and anxiety, and acting as a form of meditation.
In general, art therapy engages all of one's senses, and is a good alternative to verbal therapy. It is an effective form of therapy that is experiential and gets to the core of the issue quickly and efficiently. Some positive features of art therapy include that it (a) reduces stress; (b) increases the relaxation response; (c) increases mindfulness; and (d) is enjoyable and safe.
Please email any questions to info@livingincolor.ca
"Drawing is energy made visible." Pat Allen
