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What is Art Therapy

"Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. A goal in art therapy is to improve or restore a client’s functioning and his or her sense of personal well-being. Art therapy practice requires knowledge of visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art forms) and the creative process, as well as of human development, psychological, and counseling theories and techniques. Art therapy is an effective treatment for people experiencing developmental, medical, educational, and social or psychological impairment. Individuals who benefit from art therapy include those who have survived trauma resulting from combat, abuse, and natural disaster; persons with adverse physical health conditions such as cancer, traumatic brain injury, and other health disability; and persons with autism, dementia, depression, and other disorders. Art therapy helps people resolve conflicts, improve interpersonal skills, manage problematic behaviors, reduce negative stress, and achieve personal insight. "  
American Art Therapy Website

DeeDee Lichtenberg-Scanlan

 When I started out in this field Fifty years ago, I was unaware that Art Therapy was in its infancy stage.  The concept that artwork was a reflection of a person’s inner workings, feelings, thoughts, processes, just seemed to be a natural assumption.  The notion that a therapist could use these art products to better understand a client, that it could represent their strengths and weaknesses, aspects of their life and feelings where words were inadequate, also seemed logical. Here it is so many years later, and the power of Art Therapy still amazes me.

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66 Glen Cove Road

Greenvale, NY, 11548

516-286-1611

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