Craft Supply
Marin County, San Francisco North Bay, Ca. USA

Purpose of Art Therapy
The purpose of art therapy is much the same as in any other psychotherapeutic

  modality, to improve or maintain mental health and emotional well- being[2]. But whereas some of the other expressive therapies utilize the performing arts for expressive purposes, art therapy generally utilizes drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and other forms of visual art expression. For that reason art therapists are trained to recognize the nonverbal symbols and metaphors that are communicated within the creative process, symbols and metaphors which might be difficult to express in words or in other modalities. By helping their clients to discover what underlying thoughts and feelings are being communicated in the artwork and what it means to them, it is hoped that clients will not only gain insight and judgment, but perhaps develop a better understanding of themselves and the way they relate to the people around them. According to Ed Beeson, "Art therapists stress that it is not their job to interpret or read meaning into patients’ art"(2006). According to Annette Marie Vaccaro, “We’re not fortune tellers. We don’t try to tell their story. We try to help them tell their own story” (Beeson 2006).

Also See:

Art Goods
Art Supplies

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