Can I do art therapy myself?

Can I do art therapy myself? Isn’t making art therapeutic therefore art therapy? The Art Therapy Project hears these questions all of the time and it’s important for us, as art therapists, to differentiate between art therapy and therapeutic art-making. We spoke with our Clinical Director, Lindsay Lederman MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT, ATCS to better understand those differences as well as what happens in an art therapy session. Find out more below!

What’s the primary difference between art therapy and art-making?

The client-therapist relationship differentiates art therapy from art-making. Art therapists are mental health professionals and have formal training in both psychology and fine arts. They must earn their Master’s degree from an accredited institution; must complete post-graduate clinical and supervision hours in order to get their national certification (ATR-BC); and take an exam to become licensed in the state of New York (LCAT). This uniquely qualifies them as facilitators for helping clients process their emotions through art. 

Some art therapists say an individual can do self-art therapy exercises at home. If an individual does not have access to an art therapist, but feels the therapeutic benefits of creating art, would you recommend DIY art therapy exercises?

There’s art therapy and then there’s art-making, which can certainly be therapeutic. I always support people making art if it helps them feel good, but “DIY” art-therapy is a tricky concept. When I assign someone a directive or make a suggestion for what to do in session, it’s based on my clinical understanding of who they are as an individual and what their goals may be. It’s not a pre-packaged method. 

As therapists, it's our job to be mindful of our clients’ individual needs because there's no prescribed set of ways people get better; it's different for everyone. In addition, as a therapist, I'm here to support the clients as emotions unfold. I feel it’s irresponsible to market a ‘DIY’ art therapy exercise if I’m not there for the follow-up.

Studies have shown that making art can help with relaxation and reduce cortisol levels. So, if someone has a difficult day and doodling helps them relax, they should by all means do some art on their own. However, that shouldn't be confused with art therapy.

Have any of your clients started making art at home since joining your group? If so, how has solo art-making impacted their everyday life and mental health?

Yes, I have seen this in two different ways: some of our clients are trained artists who stopped making art when life’s challenges got in the way; and some of our clients are completely new to art-making. For those who experienced making art before, art therapy provides a space to create art with no external distractions - to have a space to create without judgment and to focus on the process of creating rather than the product itself. For those clients who are new to art, some ask for notebooks to draw in during their personal time outside of art therapy sessions. Then, of course, there are some clients who only create art during the therapy sessions. Whatever their backgrounds may be, clients have shared that making art outside of session can be a good support system. However, creating art alongside others and with an art therapist does have its own special process and meaning.

What happens in an art therapy session besides art-making?

Our group art therapy sessions usually have three main components. Each session starts with a check-in. This can either be done verbally - “Where are you today? How are you feeling? What issues have been coming up for you recently?” - or visually, with an art directive. This helps the therapist assess everyone’s needs in real time and enables them to facilitate the group accordingly. 

The session then moves into the art-making portion. Sometimes this aspect of group is completely silent and focused. Other times, it is very social and interactive. The therapist, as facilitator, supports and guides discussions and provides interventions as needed, both verbally and within the art process. It’s important for us as art therapists to observe and help clients and figure out the best way to provide therapeutic interventions. Occasionally, certain themes will come up in group discussion and it’s the art therapist’s job to hone in on them. These topics can be further explored and developed within the art or verbal processing component of the session. 

Finally, the clients are invited to share what they have been creating. During this processing portion of the session, the art therapists help clients make connections between their artwork as well as their goals and needs. The processing time also provides a space for client-to-client interactions. Clients gain so much insight and support from group interactions and connections that sometimes these are some of the most powerful moments in a session. 

What makes someone a good candidate for art therapy?

I believe being open is the most important attribute for someone interested in art therapy, especially for those coming from a non-arts background. Sometimes clients find it’s a risk to create in front of others - often, what comes out in the art-making process is a part of oneself, so participating can make someone feel very vulnerable. All clients are encouraged to engage in art therapy with an understanding that it’s therapy and the focus is not on creating art that is technically “good” or “pretty” (though sometimes art does come out that way). Rather, it’s about the process of delving into what it was like to create art from a more personal and emotional place and reflect on a client’s therapy goals. 

All in all, I think art therapy can be beneficial for anyone who wants to use art to explore underlying experiences whether that’s trauma, general stress and anxiety, or more pervasive mental health issues.