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Art Therapy: Healing through Creative Expression

by James Thomas 1,*
1
James Thomas
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 30 July 2019 / Accepted: 30 August 2019 / Published Online: 30 September 2019

Abstract

Art therapy, as a form of therapeutic intervention, is gaining recognition for its potential to facilitate healing and emotional well-being through creative expression. This paper explores the principles and practices of art therapy, highlighting how it allows individuals to engage in a therapeutic process by expressing themselves through various artistic mediums. By providing a safe and non-verbal outlet, art therapy can help patients explore and resolve internal conflicts, enhance self-awareness, and foster emotional growth. Additionally, this paper discusses the evidence base supporting art therapy's efficacy in treating a range of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. Furthermore, the importance of the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic environment in art therapy is emphasized, underscoring the significance of the therapist's role in facilitating the healing process. The paper concludes with a call for further research to expand the understanding of art therapy's mechanisms and to improve its integration into traditional healthcare systems.


Copyright: © 2019 by Thomas. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
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APA Style
Thomas, J. (2019). Art Therapy: Healing through Creative Expression. Frontiers of Art & Design, 1(1), 3. doi:10.69610/j.fad.20190930
ACS Style
Thomas, J. Art Therapy: Healing through Creative Expression. Frontiers of Art & Design, 2019, 1, 3. doi:10.69610/j.fad.20190930
AMA Style
Thomas J. Art Therapy: Healing through Creative Expression. Frontiers of Art & Design; 2019, 1(1):3. doi:10.69610/j.fad.20190930
Chicago/Turabian Style
Thomas, James 2019. "Art Therapy: Healing through Creative Expression" Frontiers of Art & Design 1, no.1:3. doi:10.69610/j.fad.20190930

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ACS Style
Thomas, J. Art Therapy: Healing through Creative Expression. Frontiers of Art & Design, 2019, 1, 3. doi:10.69610/j.fad.20190930
AMA Style
Thomas J. Art Therapy: Healing through Creative Expression. Frontiers of Art & Design; 2019, 1(1):3. doi:10.69610/j.fad.20190930
Chicago/Turabian Style
Thomas, James 2019. "Art Therapy: Healing through Creative Expression" Frontiers of Art & Design 1, no.1:3. doi:10.69610/j.fad.20190930
APA style
Thomas, J. (2019). Art Therapy: Healing through Creative Expression. Frontiers of Art & Design, 1(1), 3. doi:10.69610/j.fad.20190930

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References

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