Art Therapy

What is art therapy?

One of the most common questions we hear is, “What is Art Therapy?”. It is a great question because it can take many forms! Art Therapy is a mental health profession that enriches the lives of individuals of all ages (including adults), families, couples, and communities through the process of art-making, creativity, psychology, and the human experience. The healing process of art therapy takes place within the same psychotherapeutic relationship as traditional talk therapy. Art Therapy is facilitated by a trained Art Therapist who is a professional with a Master’s level degree and either licensure or board certification in art therapy. Art Therapists have a vast knowledge of how to safely utilize and manage the art content clients create in sessions. All of our clinicians at Sage House Therapy holds a Masters degrees in Art Therapy and are registered and board-certified through the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATBC). Our therapists are also active members of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) as well as the local Washington DC art therapy association (PATA). Many of our clinicians present annually at the national conferences held throughout the United States.

We know that with you entrust your mental health is extremely important and that it may feel overwhelming to jump into something new you have never tried before. For this reason, our art therapists work with you to find just the right balance between art and counseling, always empowering you with the best choice for you. Your modality of therapy may also evolve over time. For example, many clients come to our practice with an interest in art therapy, but express concerns about “not being artistic” or feeling like they “don’t know what to create”. If you feel that way, you are not alone and we hear you. We want to work with you to create a therapy experience that is comforting and supportive, while introducing you to tools and ways of working that may be helpful in bringing about healing and lasting change. This means we listen to your concerns and therapy goals and together, create a plan that works best for you.

“Every Child Is An Artist”- Pablo Picasso

For most children and teens, art therapy is a natural form of expression. For children, art-making can far outweigh talking like one of the most primary and natural modes of communication. It is often through art that children make sense of the world around them. For teens, using lines, shapes and colors can be a safer way to express deep emotions and complex internal struggles. For children of all ages, the healing process of art therapy occurs within the same framework as traditional talk therapy, but without the limitation of verbal development or ability. Our art therapy sessions are facilitated by Registered, Board-Certified Art Therapists who hold a Masters-level degree in Art Therapy. Our credentials are certified through the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) and we are active members of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA). Sage House Therapy clinicians also present annually at national conferences held throughout the United States. Our art therapists have vast knowledge and training in how to safely utilize art materials and tailor the art experience to best meet each child’s needs and therapeutic goals. Our therapists also manage the artwork created in sessions, making sure it is honored, as we believe it is an extension of our clients.

We know that who you choose to entrust your child’s mental health is extremely important. And we feel privileged to earn your trust to work with your family. It may also feel overwhelming to place your child or teen into something new they have never tried before. For this reason, our art therapists work with you, your family, and your child to find just the right approach. We value parental participation and view your participation in your child’s therapy as integral to the process. We work to include you every step of the way while also balancing your child’s need for privacy and confidentiality during the therapy process. We also offer parental coaching, as needed, to give you the tools and resources to help your child thrive, your family to find greater cohesion, and to allow you to feel confident as a parent. Our goal is to partner with you and your child to bring about healing and lasting change. This means we listen to the concerns you and your child or teen bring to us and work together to create a plan.

Louder Than Words: Why Clients Choose Art Therapy Over Counseling Alone

Art Therapy provides a dynamic way to address the same concerns clients discuss during talk therapy session. Because art-making requires the use of art materials, the client is invited to engage multiple senses: the kinesthetic, the sensory, the perceptual, and the symbolic. Language alone cannot fully communicate some of the emotions and experiences humans have. Research also tells us that trauma can inhibit our ability to create a linear, cohesive story of an event. Often, we have flashbulb memories of fragmented bits and pieces that float in our consciousness. Through art, we give visual and symbolic expression to these experiences. And for the first time, clients can feel empowered and able to make sense of what happened when words failed to express the depth and pain of the experience.

Art Therapists also work to help foster self-awareness and compassion, promote insight and understanding, cultivate resilience, enhance social skills and compassion, reduce distress and resolve internal conflicts and relationship challenges. While traditional talk therapy engages the linguistic, logical side of the brain, art therapy engages the parts of the brain specializing in visual and sensory memories. These visual parts also happen to be where emotional content, memory, and trauma are imprinted. Through the process of engaging the visual parts of the brain, we also create a direct pathway to access traumatic memories and experiences. Many of the experiences, perceptions, and feelings linked to traumatic events are often too difficult to put words to. This is where art therapy can work as a vehicle to bring into the light what may have previously felt impossible or unmanageable to express. With the guidance of a trained and certified art therapist, we can safely and mindfully explore traumatic experiences in a way that feels manageable, cathartic, and ultimately provides healing and closure. Clients who have spent years in talk therapy alone find art therapy is the catalyst for depth and resolution of even the most deeply-rooted issues.

Interested in learning more about how art therapy may help support you? Visit the AATA video library to see the leading art therapists speak to the efficacy of art therapy in their clinical practice or visit our blog.