What is Arts Therapy?
Arts Therapy or Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) are based on the idea that creativity enhances well-being. It is a psychotherapeutic approach that utilises many creative modalities within the therapeutic relationship to promote the emotional, social, cognitive, physical, and cultural (including spiritual) functioning of a person.
Art modalities include:
- Visual Art (drawing, painting, sculpture)
- Drama Therapy
- Sand play
- Music
- Narrative and storytelling
- Creative writing and poetry
Creative processes are used to help explore and express unconscious material that is often difficult to articulate in words. Movement Therapy is based on the connection between body and mind. It recognises that change and growth in one supports change and growth in the other.
Art Therapists help their clients improve cognitive and sensorimotor function, to foster self-esteem and body image, develop effective communication skills and relationships, expand their movement vocabulary, gain insight into patterns of behaviour and create new options for coping with problems.
Art Therapists combine their specialist Arts knowledge with skills of psychotherapy, counselling and rehabilitation to help individuals with a wide variety of treatment needs.
Art Therapies have been shown to be effective with treating:
- Trauma and it’s symptoms i.e. anxiety, depression, body image, relationship difficulties, PTSD
Trauma may be due to losing a loved one, divorce, physical pain or injury, serious illness, war, natural disaster,
terrorism, moving to a new location, witnessing a death, sexual violence/abuse, domestic abuse, parental
abandonment etc.
- Child – developmental delays, learning difficulties, those on the autism spectrum and related disorders
- Mother-infant bonding, adoption issues, attachment issues, couple/relationship issues
- Physical disorders e.g. movement restrictions, chronic pain
- Mental health conditions including addictions, eating disorders, anger management
- Neurological disorders e.g. Parkinson’s disease
- Elderly – dementia, bereavement
- LGBTQIA+
- Can support personal development; enhance personal communication, self-exploration, self-understanding
A persons’ needs can be addressed through CAT via group or individual sessions and in many different types of settings e.g. private clinics, hospitals, schools, aged-care facilities.
To be effective, NO dance skills, artistic knowledge or ability is required. They work by accessing imagination and creativity. However, CAT is not a recreational activity or an art/dance/drama lesson, although sessions can be enjoyable.
Art Therapists are highly trained! In New Zealand only those with Professional or Provisional Professional membership with the Dance Therapy Association of Australasia and American Dance Therapy Association (or an equivalent recognised body) are credentialed to deliver Dance Movement Therapy. Arts therapists must be registered with the Australia New Zealand Asian Creative Art Therapist Association (ANZACATA).
ALL our therapists at Dance & Art Therapy NZ meet these standards.
Links:
Australia New Zealand Asian Creative Art Therapist Association ANZACATA https://anzacata.org/
American Art Therapy Association AATA https://arttherapy.org/
Dance Therapy Association Australasia DTAA https://dtaa.org.au/
American Dance Therapy Association ADTA https://adta.org/
Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapists ADMP www.admp.org.uk
