Art Therapy

Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on June 06, 2024
Written by Michele Jordan
8 min read

If you think art is just for kids, then you only have a piece of the puzzle. While creating art is often a natural form of communicating for the young, it can have major benefits as you grow. 

Art therapy gives you a way to share things you’ve been through – which may be painful or traumatic – through art instead of words. It is a tool experts use to guide you through emotions, conflict, or loss to find hope and healing. Art therapy may give you a chance to find new ways to look at problems in a safe space. 

But don’t confuse art therapy with an art lesson. Therapies using the arts are based on research and psychology practices used over many decades. 

Art therapy can be for anyone – children, adults, families, and communities. Just as with talk therapy, art therapy is unique to each person. It has less to do with making art for others than making it for yourself.  

Several ancient cultures – like Africans and Greeks – included art therapy into their healing rituals. The word “therapy" is from a Greek word that means “healing” or “service.” 

Therapy using creativity is often bucketed into four groups called expressive arts therapy – visual art, music, drama, and dance/movement. And you don’t have to be an artist, actor, dancer, or musician to benefit from these therapies. You can do them one-on-one with a therapist or in a group setting. It can help if you have trouble finding the right words for your issues or for people who are nonverbal like people who have autism or PTSD. 

Visual art therapy uses supplies you might find in an average kindergarten class – pencils, crayons, clay, markers, or paints. During an art therapy session, you may do anything from using colors to describe your emotions to drawing a self portrait to show how you believe others see you. 

Dance movement therapy uses physical movement and rhythms to help you get in touch with your body and self-esteem. Dance and movement can help you express feelings. It can also lower your stress level and boost your mood, as well as make your muscles stronger and your coordination and mobility better.

Drama therapy uses play and imagination to help you get past hard thoughts or feelings. You might make up characters, play games, or tell stories. Drama therapy can include puppets, masks, or other props to explore your emotions in a safe space. Your therapist might have you practice things, like conversations with others or changing certain behavior.

Music therapy involves using sound, voice, or instruments to express yourself. A therapist may give you simple instruments like cymbals, wood blocks, or bells. In addition to making music – and you don’t have to be a trained musician – your therapist may have you listen to music to improve your well-being.

If you’re worried that you need to be a budding Picasso or Beethoven to do art therapy, have no fear. This type of therapy is about helping you reflect on what is holding you back and find ways to build hope. Certified therapists will guide you through activities that can help you create something to communicate what you can’t say with words. Art therapy is a blend of talk therapy and creative expression.

An art therapist may ask questions like:

  • What are your goals? 
  • What do you hope to get from art therapy? 
  • Why did you use that color here?
  • How does this image make you feel?
  • What was the hardest thing about creating this art?

Your emotional state may guide the type of art. And just like with other types of therapy, some situations may not be positive. If someone is feeling out of control or having trouble managing their emotions, a therapist may not use watercolors, for instance, since this type of paint may be hard to control. Structure and guidance are parts of the process. At the end of creating, the therapist may want to know what the art means to you.

Art therapists plan creative art sessions in combination with therapy for all ages. An art therapist has special training on how to use art in therapy sessions. The goal is much like traditional therapy – to give you ways to get in touch with – and deal with – your feelings. 

Art therapist credentials

Art therapists are trained in both art and therapy. A master’s degree is required for entry-level therapists. The American Art Therapy Association Inc. (AATA) provides ongoing education and guidance on professional standards. Art therapists are credentialed through the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) – the only nationally recognized credentialing group for art therapists in the U.S. Some states vary in psychotherapy requirements. Therapists working in expressive arts (music, drama, dance, visual art) can get credentials through the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA). 

Where do art therapists work? 

You may find art therapists in a variety of places. They can work in: 

  • Schools
  • Hospitals 
  • Private practice
  • Psychiatric facilities
  • Correctional facilities  
  • Senior communities
  • Veterans’ clinics

Art therapist salary

Art therapists’ salaries are different, based on location. On average, art therapists can earn about $55,000, but salaries can range from $30,000 to $80,000 with those with more experience earning a higher rate.  

Anyone who may need therapy to deal with mental and emotional challenges might consider art therapy. Studies have shown that using art when language is difficult – like if you have trauma from war, after a mass shooting, or as a victim of violence – art therapy may be able to help. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor or therapist about it. And art therapy can be good for children who can’t easily describe their feelings. 

Using art to help express your emotions to a therapist can help if you are dealing with a number of conditions including:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety 
  • PTSD
  • ADHD (children or adults) 
  • Postpartum depression 
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Schizophrenia 
  • Autism
  • Depression and anxiety from chronic illnesses such as cancer 
  • Dementia or Alzheimer’s  
  • Substance use disorder

Art therapy may also help you deal with trauma. That's an emotional response to something terrible that happens in your life. It could be an accident, natural disaster, crime, or emotional or physical abuse. Trauma can also come about even if you witness a violent act or see the tragedies of war. Afterward, you may feel shock or denial and have flashbacks or nightmares. The impact can cause physical symptoms, too, like headaches or nausea. This is all normal. But if you find it harder to move on with life, art therapy may work for you. 

It may help you change your thoughts about something traumatic. Your therapist can help you uncover your ability to adjust and withstand the emotions the trauma has created. Using art to identify and express emotions can help you get back control over them.    

Visual art therapy can give people who have dementia or Alzheimer's a feeling of accomplishment and a way to express themselves. Music therapy may help lower anxiety that happens in mid-stage Alzheimer’s. People with late-stage disease have also been known to remember songs they sang as a child, even when other communication might be hard. 

Using art to process emotions can have several benefits for people of all ages. Those can include:

  • Lower stress and anxiety 
  • Improved pain symptoms
  • Better quality of life for people with chronic or terminal conditions 
  • Improved relationships
  • Sharper thinking skills
  • Higher self-esteem 
  • Fewer negative emotions
  • Lower blood pressure 

One study of women with cancer who did art therapy (pottery, card-making, painting, and collage) showed they had a more positive outlook, less focus on cancer, greater self-worth, and they saw themselves as more than just a cancer patient. A similar study found art therapy helped lower stress and ease physical symptoms among people with cancer. 

Most experts see art therapy as low-risk and high reward for people with serious mental illness. 

And it’s not just visual art. Other types of art – dance, music, acting, and writing – can also give emotional and mental health benefits.

Possible negative effects of art therapy 

Therapy is not guaranteed to work. Like other types of therapy, art therapy can have negative effects including:

  • Increased stress or anxiety 
  • Damaged trust in therapy or therapists  
  • Overwhelming emotions that may come up 
  • Seeing it as “arts and crafts” instead of a form of therapy 
  • A hard time adjusting when art therapy ends

If you are interested in trying art therapy, you might not know where to look. Start by asking your current doctor or therapist. The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) has a locator on its website, and you can search by state. A local chapter of AATA can help you find a credentialed therapist. Check out listings on PsychologyToday.com also. 

When looking for an art therapist, make sure they are:

  • Credentialed through an agency like the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB)
  • Licensed in psychotherapy in the state where you live
  • Willing to answer questions about your therapy goals 

Art therapy can be an effective form of therapy to help you deal with emotions. It’s not “arts and crafts.” It can help you express feelings and thoughts if words fail you. Art therapists are trained in both art and therapy and should be credentialed through a reputable source. 

Do you have to be good at art to do art therapy? 

You don’t have to be good at art to do art therapy. It’s less about art and more about using creative expression to handle your emotions. You don’t have to show your art to anyone but your therapist. 

Does art therapy work? 

Several studies say yes. But like any therapy or treatment, it might not be for everyone. Experts suggest people who have had trauma, a severe loss, or who have trouble sharing their feelings in words might benefit from art therapy. 

Why is art therapy not always taken seriously? 

Art therapy isn’t as well-known as other kinds of therapy. There are also myths about what art therapy is – some people may see it as less serious, as just playing, or for children instead of a real type of therapy for all ages. In recent years, more research, standards, and tools have made art therapy a bit more known.

What are the types of art therapy? 

Art therapy uses creativity to help you express your emotions and manage challenging situations. Types of art therapy include: 

  • Visual art, like painting, drawing, coloring, collage-making, photography, or sculpting
  • Music 
  • Dance or movement therapy
  • Acting or drama therapy

Is art therapy covered by insurance? How much does it cost? 

Art therapy may or may not be covered by insurance. Most therapists who solely offer art therapy are not covered by insurance, but this is not always the case. Art therapy may be covered through a hospital or as part of rehab. Some therapists offer discounts for group therapy or for lower-income patients. Art therapy in private practice can vary from $50 an hour to $250 an hour. The average is close to $100 to $150. Look for community art therapy programs or workshops for lower-cost options.