Three Common Misconceptions People have about Art Therapy in San Diego.

There are many misconceptions about therapy in general that contribute to the stigma of seeking help for mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Over the past few years, and especially over this past year, individuals throughout our country, state, and right here in San Diego county have become more, not less anxious and depressed.

Stigma and misconceptions often contribute to people not getting the help they need.

Many therapists use more expressive methods in therapy, including Art Therapists. People of all ages benefit greatly from these methods. For children, with less developed cognitive abilities, expressive therapies can compensate for the limitations of “talk therapy”. For anyone, especially parents who are seeking to understand more about Art Therapy I wanted to share three common misconceptions.

Misconception #1: Art Therapy is not real therapy.

When I was an intern, earning hours toward becoming a Marriage & Family Therapist and a Registered Art Therapist in San Diego, I completed some initial therapist training in a hospital setting. I’ll never forget preparing one day to make rounds to the patients’ rooms, and a nurse remarked, “If no one is interested today, I will come color with you”.  Her remark was well intended, but also perhaps reflected one of the biggest misconceptions about Art Therapy.  

Interestingly, while I was working with patients at that facility, I recall how an older gentleman, expressed curiosity and openness about participating in an art therapy session. During our session, he was unable to use his dominant hand, due to swelling. He chose to “color” with pastels, using his non-dominant hand. As he reflected on the image he had created, a memory from early in his career came flooding back. With the safety of support and guidance, he opened up and shared about the painful loss he experienced. Something he reportedly hadn’t spoken about with anyone before.  Real therapy happened that day because Art Therapy with a credentialed Art Therapist is real therapy and coloring happened to be a piece of his process. However, from the outside looking in, the therapy part of Art Therapy can often be overlooked.

American Art Therapy Association (AATA 2017) definition of Art Therapy:

“Art Therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.

Art Therapy facilitated by a professional art therapist effectively supports personal and relational treatment goals as well as community concerns. Art Therapy is used to improve cognitive and sensory-motor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and advance societal and ecological change”.

This abbreviated definition also highlights a second misconception about art therapy.

Misconception #2: Anyone can provide art therapy.

Perhaps this misconception originates with the idea that art therapy is not a separate profession, but rather just a series of art interventions.

If you accept the AATA definition that Art Therapy is an integrative mental health profession then by definition, it must be provided by a mental health professional. The professional credentialed to provide this therapy is called an Art Therapist. Other mental health clinicians with certification training in art therapy as well as Expressive Arts Therapists provide art therapy. Individuals who are trained & credentialed as Expressive Arts Therapists have training in visual art, movement, dance, music, and writing.

You may find that others do provide therapeutic art interventions, sometimes without the master’s level art therapy training, supervised clinical hours, oversight, or credentialing.

If you are interested in participating in Art Therapy in San Diego

I encourage you to seek out an art therapist credentialed through the Art Therapy Credential Board (ATCB). As a national credentialing board, the ATCB ensures the educational and professional standards needed to be a qualified art therapist are met and maintained.  This is essential in any mental health field to provide an ethical standard of care and the best treatment outcomes.

Another common misconception is about actual artmaking. 

Misconception #3: Art Therapy requires skill in making art

Adults especially fear the “art” part of Art Therapy and the thought of having to draw, paint or make something out of clay if they believe they must possess skill to create art.

Contrary to what most people believe, creatively expressing yourself is less about skill and more about quieting your inner critic.

It can be transformative to ignore your inner critic and allow yourself to explore, play and embrace your curiosity. Children often have an easier time in Art Therapy because they are often more comfortable with exploring and playing. They also get opportunities to stay in practice with artmaking at school and in other programs, so it feels natural for them to express themselves this way.

Art Therapy is an active process where adults and children can share their stories, look at an issue from a distance, and communicate deeply felt emotions like anger, fear, and sadness. There are also sensorimotor healing aspects of art creation, along with the focus on the “here and now” inherent in the process.

Free consultation for Art Therapy in San Diego

My name is Tami, and as a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Encinitas, I also work as an Art Therapist in San Diego north county. I have helped children and adults share their stories in powerful ways using creative expression. I hope this short article has helped to clear up a few misconceptions that you may have had about art therapy.

If you are looking for help for a quiet child who struggles to express themselves due to anxiety, you can read more about how I can help here. If you are interested to learn more about my therapy services for adults or children in-person and online please click here to schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation. To learn more about art therapy for anxiety and trauma, click here to visit my Art Therapy page.