The Therapeutic Use of Art

Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art making by people who experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living.

It is a human services profession in which a registered art therapist facilitates a creative art process and the client’s responses to the art making as reflections of their development, abilities, personality, interests, concerns and conflicts.

Based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life enhancing, an art therapist guides clients in the art process. Through creating art and talking about the process, clients increase awareness of self, cope with stress, enhance cognitive abilities and enjoy creativity’s life-affirming pleasures.

It also fosters self-awareness, problem solving, anxiety reduction and increasing self-esteem.

Drawing from an array of art modalities, art therapists are both knowledgeable and skilled in the approaches and applications of a variety of art media including drawing, painting, clay, fibers, sand tray and oil pastels.

 

Poppy T. Scheibel, M.S., A.T.R. Youthful Aging Home Health clients work with Poppy T. Scheibel, M.S., A.T.R., a registered art therapist. A master’s-prepared art therapist, Scheibel is accredited by the Art Therapy Credentials Board, and is a professional member of the American Art Therapy Association and the Florida Art Therapy Association.