What Is Art Therapy? An Updated Guide to Expressive Psychotherapy

Art therapy is a psychotherapy that uses the creative process of making visual art to help clients access and express emotions that may be difficult to put into words. Developed as a clinical field in the mid-20th century, it is used across age groups and settings - from schools and hospitals to private practice. Trained art therapists hold advanced degrees and professional credentials. The practice focuses on the therapeutic relationship and the meaning of the artwork rather than artistic talent.

What is art therapy?

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses the process of making visual art to help people explore emotions, reduce stress, and work through psychological or medical challenges. Unlike an art class, the focus is therapeutic: the artwork and the relationship with a trained therapist help reveal feelings and patterns that can be hard to express in words.

A brief history

People have used art for self-expression for millennia. The modern profession of art therapy developed in the mid-20th century, after World War II, when clinicians observed that drawing, painting, and sculpture helped survivors and patients process trauma. Early leaders in the field include Margaret Naumburg and Edith Kramer, who established many of the clinical and educational foundations still used today.

How it works

Sessions vary by setting and client need. A therapist may invite free drawing, guided imagery, or structured projects. The emphasis is on the creative process and on the client's reflections about the image, rather than on artistic skill.

Therapists use the artwork as a starting point for conversation and exploration. Through this process clients can identify feelings, practice new coping strategies, and gain insight into relationships and behavior.

Who uses art therapy?

Art therapy serves people of all ages. It is commonly used with children (who may have limited verbal skills), with people who have experienced trauma, and in medical settings such as oncology, palliative care, and rehabilitation. Schools, hospitals, community centers, and private practices all offer art therapy programs.

Training and professional standards

Art therapists are mental health professionals with specialized training. In many countries they hold a master's degree in art therapy or expressive therapies and hold clinical credentials. For example, in the United States clinicians often hold credentials from the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB), and in the United Kingdom art therapists are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Professional associations include the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT: https://www.baat.org) and the American Art Therapy Association (AATA: https://arttherapy.org).

Relationship to other expressive therapies

While the term "art therapy" usually refers to visual arts (drawing, painting, sculpture, collage), related disciplines such as music therapy and drama therapy use different media and have separate training and credentialing.

Evidence and benefits

Clinical practice and growing research indicate that art therapy can support emotional regulation, stress reduction, and coping with illness or trauma. It is most effective when provided by a trained therapist as part of a comprehensive care plan.

If you are considering art therapy, check a practitioner's education and credentials, and ask how they integrate artmaking with clinical goals.