Art Therapy provides an opportunity for people to express their inner feelings and experiences in a natural and active way. The very act of creating something new with the movement of the body and the healing hands reinforces over time a position of psychic maturation, where the self leaves the position of a spectator of life and becomes an active participant in it.

Through painting, clay, collage, masks and techniques such as active imagination, authentic movement, the dramatization of myths and fairy tales, the personal symbols and images of each person in therapy are felt on a conscious level and are open to their own subjective interpretation. It is through this process of deep self-awareness of one’s potentials, challenges and patterns that one can come to accept and love one’s story, and begin the journey of individuation, living a life more in harmony with one’s heart in truth.

For some people, describing an emotion becomes easier when it is expressed through the creation of a tangible image and this is because language processing, creative thinking and emotion are all activated by different parts of the brain. Art Therapy helps integration, bridging the gaps between these functions with a more intuitive and holistic outcome for the person in therapy.

So, Art therapy provides a way for people to express their feelings and experiences which are hard to communicate well verbally. Children, for example, may not yet have the skills to express their experiences or feelings in words, but they can use art as a form of expression. Art Therapy can also be used in elderly populations to promote healthy ageing. The problem solving involved in creating art (such as choosing colors and compositional elements) keeps the brain active.

Also, memories and trauma are stored in different parts of the brain than verbal language, which is why verbal therapy alone may not be as beneficial for people who have experienced trauma. If someone is in therapy to heal a trauma from the past, art therapy can help them tap into this part of the brain where these memories are stored.

Anyone can benefit from healing through art, and you don’t need to have any artistic skill to do so. A common misconception is that art therapy is only for “creators” or for children. It’s for everyone, regardless of age, skills or demographics. Art Therapy is not a painting course where the focus is on technique and aesthetic effect. On the contrary, its purpose is not to create a perfect art piece. It is to explore how art relates to oneself, how one feels and what one wants to heal.

Scientific studies suggest that creative expression through art therapy can help people dealing with anxiety, depression and even more serious illnesses such as cancer. It can help improve memory in people of all ages, from the young to the elderly, who may need help in this area. Art therapy can be particularly beneficial for people who have experienced trauma, including people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

One study found that people with PTSD who participated in art therapy were better able to relax, communicate their memories and feelings externally through their art, had less disturbing thoughts and felt more confident about their future.

It has also been shown to improve self-esteem, build self-confidence and promote change in thought patterns, and to improve overall wellbeing.

In his classic work, Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, Irvin Yalom identified 11 primary “therapeutic factors” present in all group therapy, in particular with ongoing longer-term groups. They are as follows:

1. Instillation of Hope – creates a feeling of optimism about one’s future and the ability to cure that which need not be endured and endure that which cannot be cured. 
   
2. Universality – helps group members realize that they are not alone in their suffering and the problems they face and that others are willing to support them, which helps move group members out of isolation and can be be profoundly healing. 
   
3. Imparting of Information – educates and empowers group members with knowledge pertaining to their specific situation, whether it be information about a resource or someone’s personal story of how they dealt with difficulties and experienced success. 
   
4. Altruism – allows group members to experience a sense of significance by helping other group members. As one comes to recognize they have something of value to provide their fellow group members, they gain in self-worth and confidence.
   
5. Corrective Recapitulation of Primary Family Group – allows for the rectification of past family and childhood events within the safety of the group, which in a way acts as a substitute family for each member. New ways of relating can be formed, helping to weaken unhelpful patterns learned in one’s family of origin.
   
6. Development of Socializing Techniques – encourages and advances relating and social skills such as tolerance, boundaries, empathy, and conflict resolution. This helps reduce isolation and promotes connection with others in more meaningful ways, which is generalized over time into one’s life outside of the group. 
   
7. Imitative Behavior – helps group members learn more effective ways of confronting problems and managing relationships by witnessing other members apply new and appropriate methods that disrupt their old, dysfunctional patterns.
   
8. Interpersonal Learning – provides opportunity for group members to learn about relationships and intimacy, in effect helping them develop supportive, authentic interpersonal relationships. Within the safety of the group space, members can openly share and communicate; in return, they receive support and respectful feedback, perhaps for the first time ever.
   
9. Group Cohesiveness – gives members a sense of belonging, acceptance, and value, providing both a nurturing and empowering experience. This promotes security within oneself and in relationship to others and is an important catalyst for group members to take the risks of self-disclosure and change. 
   
10. Catharsis – releases strong or long-suppressed emotions associated with past psychological woundings, bringing a sense of relief and allowing for significant shifts in one’s internal framework.
    
11. Existential Factors – involves one’s individual quest to find meaning in their life. Includes the process of understanding and accepting the reality of the human condition, with all its frustrations and limitations. With each other’s support, group members learn to accept life on life’s terms without seeking escape or denial, without fighting it, and without being paralyzed by it. Instead, they learn how to live with them and through them, seeing that obstacles are not in the way of the path but in fact are the path.