Frequently Asked Question
If you are curious about integrating more art therapy into our sessions, here are some frequently asked questions to help demystify the experience.
Q. Do you need to know how to draw to participate in art therapy?
A. No prior art experience or skill is necessary to participate in art therapy.
Q. In my culture, drawing the human figure is now allowed. Can I still participate in art therapy?
A. Absolutely, if there are drawing topics or materials that conflict with your religion, culture, or cause discomfort, they are avoided. Since each session is individually tailored to your unique needs, you will be encouraged to share any pertinent information in the first session.
Q. Isn’t art making just for children?
A. True...and adults! Art making is incredibly important for adults as it helps to reduce anxiety and improve mood. Engaging in forms of creativity also helps people to think “outside the box” when problem solving in professional and personal settings.
Q. I’ve been through so much, Do you think art therapy can help?
A. From a neurological perspective, trauma memories are stored in our senses and body. Art therapy is inherently a sensory/body based intervention that allows people to safely express memories that are hard to access with words alone. Art therapy has also been shown to reduce cortisol levels which is your body’s stress hormone that activates “fight or flight”. There are so many benefits to art therapy!
Q. I would like to try art therapy but I really need to talk about my concerns. Can I do both?
A. In art therapy, talking is just as important as art making. In fact, art holds no meaning in the session until the client gives it meaning by speaking about the imagery and what it represents.
Q. Do we have to use art therapy in every session?
A. Depending on your needs that day, we can choose to do art therapy or traditional verbal therapy. Trying art therapy does not
Q. Do you analyze me through my art?
A. The person who creates the art is the one who dictates its meaning. At the same time, my training allows me to look at artwork to develop more questions for the client so they can explore additional and more unconscious details to their artwork. Similar to a verbal therapist, questions are asked that help guide the client to a greater sense of clarity.