Art-Therapy
Art Therapy enables the use of art materials such as paint, collage and clay for self expression and reflection in the presence of an art therapist. It is particularly useful for those who may have difficulty expressing themselves verbally, such as children, but it can also be effective with adults, who sometimes use words as a means of distancing themselves from their thoughts and emotions.

The overall aim is to enable each individual to express and explore their emotions, feelings, memories, traumas and conflicts in a non-verbal way. In so doing they may express both conscious and unconscious thoughts that they can reflect upon when they look at their work. This may ultimately help them to express or discuss their thoughts and feelings verbally with the art-therapist or other practitioners. If not, the work represents an important non-verbal means of communication.

Art therapy is used with a wide range of people and groups including, children, adults, people with learning disabilities, families and prisoners. While a finished work can have artistic merit, these qualities are largely irrelevant to its function in helping an individual to effect positive personal change and development. At the same time, the pleasure of this creative process and the positive reaction of others to their work can enrich an individual's life experience and promote an increased self-esteem.

Art therapists are trained in both art and therapy. They often work as part of a clinical team in a wide range of institutions. Although work produced in an art-therapy session is often spontaneous, it may also be directed by the art therapist who is skilled in a variety of art-techniques both for treatment and assessment. The relationship between the art-therapist and the individual is centrally important, but art-therapy also differs from other psychological therapies in that it involves a three way process between the therapist, the individual and the artefact.

Anglea Evers, art therapist of the Asssociation Valetudo based at the Maison de Santé de St Paul de Mausole, describes the process as follows:

The creative process always has something magic about it. The work projected on the paper or canvas transcends the individual. Its roots go deep into that which is most personal. . . . When creativity becomes urgent for those who are ill or suffering, then art becomes therapy. It dresses the wounds, cares for the soul and restores the self-esteem.

The studio of the Association Valetudo is situated within the same building where Vincent Van Gogh spent a year undergoing voluntary treatment in what was then known as an 'Insane Asylum'. It is most fitting that his spirit should live on at that institution in the form of art-therapy. Today, those benefiting from art-therapy at St Paul combine painting and collage techniques using diverse materials such as acrylic, paper, sand, glue and pigments. You can view and buy examples of their work in the virtual studios presented in this section of the website.

Below are some useful contacts to help you to find out more about art therapy and how to become an art therapist:

American Art Therapy Association www.arttherapy.org
Arts in Therapy International Alliance www.artsintherapy.com
The Australian and New Zealand Art Therapy Association www.anata.org.au
British Association of Art Therapists www.baat.org
German Association of Art Therapy www.dgkt.de
Quebec Art Therapy Association www.aatq.org