Art Therapy

Art therapy may promote the regulation of poorly adapted or overwhelming emotional experiences by helping people express themselves in their artwork using materials that appeal to them in the moment.

Art therapy may also benefit people by helping them strengthen their identities, develop a more positive self-image, and improve self-perception, self-insight, and self-reflection. People participating in art therapy may learn to express their emotions more effectively and potentially gain more insight into their mental health, which can be especially helpful for those who have difficulty putting their thoughts and feelings into words. Art therapy may also help individuals address their problems, accept their limitations, and learn healthier coping skills.

Art therapists typically plan sessions to meet therapeutic goals and engage patients in the creative process to support them in healing trauma, decreasing stress, and/or increasing insight.

The first session usually begins with a discussion of what the patient hopes to accomplish, and the therapist and patient then work together to determine what type of artwork the patient would like to create. Art therapists may recommend a medium or project based on what the patient hopes to accomplish. For example, a therapist may encourage an individual to draw their family members, focus on free-flowing abstract art, or create a story using a collage.

As the patient begins to create, the therapist may quietly observe, or they may ask questions. The therapist is not there to interfere or judge the quality of the work or the feelings or thoughts behind it.

When the art is complete, the therapist typically asks questions about the creative process, like whether creating the piece was easy or difficult and what memories or thoughts the client had during the process. After learning more about the patient’s experience developing the art, the therapist usually provides observations and works with them to make connections and move toward meeting treatment goals.

The therapist may then schedule another session and/or ask the client to make art on their own outside of the session.

For those experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

Recent research suggests that creating art may have many potential benefits, including improving mood and activating reward pathways in the brain. Some populations that may see benefits from art therapy include:

• Survivors of sex trafficking or sexual assault
• Active-duty military
• Veterans
• Survivors of trauma¹
• People who are grieving
• People in hospice
• People experiencing age-related problems
• Children who may not have the vocabulary or understanding to express feelings verbally

Individuals with mental health disorders such as the following may also respond to art therapy:

• Anxiety²
• Depression³
• A personality disorder(s)
• An eating disorder(s)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• A substance use disorder(s)

Art therapy may also benefit the mental health of people with certain medical conditions, including:

• Parkinson’s disease
• Cancer
• Coronary artery disease
• Diabetes

Art therapy can also be effective in helping children cope with a variety of challenges. For example, children with cancer who participate in art therapy may find it easier to express their emotions. They may also develop practical coping skills and experience reduced depression, anxiety, and pain as a result of this type of treatment.

Art therapy may also help children and adolescents who have been orphaned and/or who experience challenges like autism spectrum disorder,⁴ conduct disorder, PTSD, or suicidal thoughts.

Improved sensory perception and self-perception

• Experiencing different art materials and possibilities and reacting to them
• Discovering new opportunities and gaining an understanding of one’s individuality
• Becoming aware of emotions and feelings
• Being in the present moment
• Perceiving physical signals in the body

Increased personal integration

• Seeing emotions through visual designs
• Exploring and recognizing feelings
• Portraying a self-identity
• Clarifying thoughts and feelings
• Differentiating patterns concerning feelings, behaviors, and thoughts
• Differentiating between inner conflicts

Improved impulse and emotional regulation

• Expressing personal emotions
• Improving regulation
• Living through emotions and feelings

Changed behavior

• Applying alternative behaviors to manage emotions
• Having emotional contact with others
• Advancing social skills
• Coping with social conflict
• Giving and receiving emotional support and social recognition
• Improving the ability to give and receive feedback

Increased insight and comprehension

• Improving verbal expression
• Enhancing understanding of thought patterns and functioning
• Drawing and connecting conclusions

Although more research is required to gain a clearer perspective on when art therapy may be most effective, multiple studies on its use suggest positive results in treating many types of mental health disorders, such as the following.

Depression and anxiety disorders

One 2023 study recruited 85 stroke patients with anxiety and depression to engage in art therapy twice a week for two weeks. Data from the study suggests a significant improvement in depression, anxiety, and stress levels for the patients after intervention. 

Another art therapy study involved 47 women aged 18–65 who participated in 10–12 individual art therapy sessions over three months. The women were diagnosed with generalized anxiety, social anxiety, or panic disorder with moderate to severe symptoms. The findings suggest that the participants experienced a significant decrease in symptom severity, greater emotion regulation, and overall improved quality of life after working with art therapists.

Schizophrenia

A phenomenological investigation of patients with schizophrenia in a South African hospital measured their experiences with embodiment, temporality, spatiality, sociality, and selfhood during art therapy. The participants reported having a “sense of home” when describing their experiences through this type of therapy. The researchers who observed the treatment suggest that “feeling more at home in the world during art-making” can offer support to individuals who are experiencing mental distress and looking for a new way to perceive themselves and the world.

Personality disorders

A quantitative study in the Netherlands surveyed 539 adult patients with personality disorders engaged in art therapy throughout a three-month period. Data from 528 patients suggests that the majority reported benefiting significantly from art therapy, especially in terms of emotional and social functioning.

Art therapy can be an alternative to psychotherapy, or the two can be used in conjunction with one another. Art therapists receive training and therapy credentials in both art and therapy, including human development and counseling techniques. 

To practice this type of therapy, providers must have a master’s degree and meet minimal educational and professional standards established by the American Art Therapy Association and other credentials boards, as applicable. You can learn more about these qualifications by visiting the American Art Therapy Association website or the Art Therapy Credentials Board website. When choosing an art therapist, ensuring they have the right qualifications from the applicable art therapy association for their region is essential. 

You might find an American Art Therapy Association-qualified art therapist near you by using the American Art Therapy Association’s therapist locator on the American Art Therapy Association’s website, or by using the locator tool on the Art Therapy Credentials Board’s website.

Alternatively, you might search for an art therapist who offers online sessions. This may allow you to get treatment from the comfort of your home, which may be especially helpful if symptoms of a mental health condition make it difficult to commute to a therapist’s office. Regardless of whether you participate in therapy online or in person, art therapy led by a provider who is credentialed by the appropriate therapy association may help lead to better emotional regulation and improved overall quality of life.