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 Can’t Spell Therapy Without A.R.T

    For as long as I can remember anxiety has plagued my life. My mom told me that my first

attack was at two years of age due to the sight of towering Christmas presents. Obviously, I was

extremely overwhelmed by what I saw, but it wasn’t for any reason most would need to leave the

room to calm down. Little did I know that was one of many future anxiety/panic attacks. I started

therapy around the time of junior high. Not long after that, during one of the worst times in my

life, I started medication Sophomore year of high school. Since birth I have literally been drawn

to the creative side (no pun intended). Whether it was being messy with paint, or sketching

creations that came to my mind, I have always loved the arts. I am certain my future will involve

my artistic point of view. It is quite hard to imagine a successful career with the amount of stress

I carry within my little busy mind. I know I will have an amazing future but I can’t fathom that

future anytime soon, but why? My mental illnesses have been a constant in my life and it seems

that it will never leave my side, but that doesn’t mean that’s all I am. Besides trying medications

and doing therapy, art has always been there for me...so why not try both at once?! That is when

I remembered the term “art therapy”, but what is it, and is it actually helpful? 

    One common misunderstanding with the field of art therapy is that it is only for those who

dabble in the arts...in one way or another. I will admit, I didn’t know much about art therapy

before this project, my knowledge was small. I honestly haven’t known many people who have

experienced the process, but it also occurred to me, I haven’t really asked. During my “year of

panic” (2018-2019), I went to an Outpatient Facility close to my area. I went directly there

instead of experiencing Inpatient first, like most. During my few months there I realized they

continuously put out crayons and coloring books on the table for us to use as a tool. Most of us

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didn’t want to be there but we all enjoyed the arts and crafts. I realized that for some, it calmed

them, for others it was a nice distraction from their reality. I personally enjoyed using my hands

as a way of distracting from how I felt inside. It helped me, so it must be able to help others,

right? So I ask, “How effective is art therapy for people who struggle with mental illness?” 

    When words aren’t enough. That is purely and absolutely the best way to describe, “Art

Therapy.” What does that mean? That simply means when words aren’t enough to express

yourself, art is the next best thing. Art therapy helps you express emotions, but is that it?

“Art therapy is used to improve cognitive and sensorimotor 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”

(American Art Therapy Association).

Those are a lot of results that supposedly come with the experience of a session. Not only are

you tapping into your creative side, you channel your spiritual mind and body as well as your

emotions. “Through integrative methods, art therapy engages the mind, body, and spirit in ways

that are distinct from verbal articulation alone” (American Art Therapy Association). Art is for

everyone and, as everyone knows, art is subjective. There is no right or wrong when you create

art and that goes for art therapy too. “Anyone can use art therapy. Art therapy can effectively

treat people of all ages. Anyone from groups or communities to individuals to families to people

in all sorts of relationships can use art as therapy” (Art Therapy Blog). Everyone is welcome and

for lots of different reasons. Most people assume art therapy is just for “mentally ill” people or

extreme cases, so did I. Then I remembered the bad wrap traditional therapy would get from

people who didn’t understand, but the truth is, someone within your circle has done therapy for

one reason or another. People use art therapy for a handful of reasons, including recovering from

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serious accidents, depression, anxiety, PTSD, autism, brain injuries, eating disorders, disabilities,

cancer, etc and even just to explore oneself a little more. “As you can see, anyone can use art

therapy…and anyone who uses art therapy is capable of benefiting from it in some way. There

are benefits from simply using the arts as a creative outlet in one’s life, regardless of whether you

are seeing an art therapist” (Art Therapy Blog). Now of course, seeing an actual art therapist

rather than exploring by yourself will make a big difference in your journey. 

    Of course, this all sounds great but I wanted to learn more from someone in the actual field

and someone who made a living from this career. I had luck finding my mentor, a professional

art therapist. After a couple zoom sessions together where I learned the basics of the job and title,

I was ready for an interview. I decided to continue my project by having my first interview be

with my mentor, Clarissa Greguska.

“...when I read about it in a very cheesy murder mystery book called Hush and I think I

read that when I was like...15 or 16 but in the book the protagonist is an art therapist and

she was working with kids at the time doing art therapy which I thought was... really cool

cause it wasn't just like making art to make art like it was really meaningful and

transformative and so that led me on my journey to where I am today,” Greguska told me.

After discussing the highlights in her career I decided to go in a different direction and ask what

she would change about the field, if anything.

“Well I think a lot of art therapy advocacy needs to be done still. I think there's a

misconception about [who] art therapist[s] are and what we do and so I think that just

continuing to do greater advocacy work and transparency of what art therapy is, and how

[it is a] stand alone Mental Health Profession. [Art therapy is] not just a therapist

interpreting your art … or it's not just therapy for artists…it's just like your counselor or

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 therapist but they happen to know how to use the creative world to hopefully be helpful,”

Greguska stated, as well as going in depth of the past views of art therapy.

Before the interview she actually recommended that I read a popular book called, “The Art

Therapy Sourcebook.” I was able to see other artist’s work and get a sense of how the process

goes for some. I wanted to gather information for when I attempt my own art therapy session.

Ms. Greguska also told me that she had taken art therapy before to understand what she would be

doing professionally and I wanted to know if she saw genuine improvement in herself as well as

her clients.

“Yes, if it is a good [therapeutic] fit… I might not be the best fit or like the way I practice

Art Therapy might not be what that person needs, but I think you eventually find your

specialty (i.e., like your population). [As a registered art therapist you] keep getting

training…and keep educating yourself of what could be helpful … both for art therapy

wise and for other techniques.” In a simpler way, Greguska put it like this, “I wouldn’t be

in the field still if I practiced a couple years and I’m like you know what, this isn’t very

effective, this is really hard.”

    After a bit of time, I decided to ask people in my community to see who has taken art therapy.

To my surprise an astonishing number of friends and colleagues stepped up and told me a brief

sentence about their experience. Almost everyone had something good to say, but one girl didn’t

like the experience and it was simply not for her. Another shock was many adults reached out to

me and said they were interested in learning more about the topic. Emma Farris, a student in high

school who had taken art therapy, was more than happy to volunteer her time for an interview. I

started with the obvious question of why she decided to start art therapy and this is what Ms.

Farris said,

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 “I was getting very overwhelmed with my school workload and sports practices starting

to pick up. In March my school started bringing back four days a week and sports

practices could be every day, which was a huge change from just the two days on campus

and not as crammed sports schedule. Friends and I quickly felt overwhelmed, so we did

some research and found a local lady would offer short little art therapy classes on the

weekends, and we thought it would be worth a try.”

I asked her to then compare her knowledge before and after taking an art therapy class. After her

first and only experience, so far, she had learned a lot of things and stated, “It can help people

not bottle up their thoughts.” Many people reported feeling relief from art therapy during the

current crisis we live in and in general, including Ms. Farris. As she discussed taking an art

therapy session again, I was interested in hearing what type of art calls to her, if any at all. “I

personally like painting with acrylics. It’s sort of boring compared to other methods, but I like

the sense of control you have over what you're painting,” Ms. Farris said, which I found very

interesting because she was able to make that connection in the first place. After I observed some

of the art she made (and continues to make), I was reminded of my love for the arts, even though

it can be quite frustrating. Although she has found herself in stressful times again, she turns to art

to center herself once more. This was Ms. Farris’s final message in our interview,

“I would totally recommend art therapy, especially to those that deal with their anxiety

and stress through either denial or slowly working through it one thought at a time. It can

help them confront fears AND resolve them.”

    Is art therapy critical enough to continue during a virus pandemic? In a recent survey during

the height of 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic we found out how art therapy is continuing in our

current situation.

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 “Half (53.1%) of art therapists surveyed said that they are continuing to go to work in

person, with many working in psychiatric hospital settings or outpatient mental health

clinics. In addition, two thirds (69.9%) reported that they are also working from home at

least some of the time during the pandemic, with many having transitioned to teletherapy

via video platforms or telephone” (American Art Therapy Association).

It is wonderful to hear the therapists have their jobs during this nightmare, but what about the

patients?! Not only is this a weird new time for everyone but it can be even more stressful for

existing patients and/or mentally ill people.

“Nearly all art therapists (92.0%) surveyed reported that their clients were experiencing

anxiety due to isolation during the Coronavirus pandemic, and two in three (62.7%) said

that their clients raised these concerns frequently. In addition, clients were particularly

worried about their existing medical illnesses or those of their loved ones: four in five

(80.7%) art therapists reported it was discussed in sessions” (American Art Therapy

Association).

Unfortunately, this isn’t the ideal way to teach and do art therapy, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t

possible to improve while being apart or strictly online. 

    One last importance of the arts is that there is no such thing as “wrong”. It is mostly subjective

and not commonly viewed as objective. Even though art is all accepting, why can’t everyone

view and accept “art therapy” that way? For any mental illness profession there will be push

back. Mental illness isn’t commonly recognized or talked about as it should be, many are just

uncomfortable with the topic. I for one had to deal with mental illness my whole life, and today,

I am comfortable telling my story and admitting I am not “perfect”, but I also believe nobody is.

For many, including those who don’t suffer from mental illness, simply can’t comprehend what

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the issue is and why it is such a big deal. It is not okay to see someone who is different as “less

of a person” or “no longer seen as an individual”. Many don’t understand art can go hand in hand

with recovery.

‘“I don’t want my child to be in therapy, but they can do the arts and crafts portion of art

therapy, right?’ Unfortunately, most people do not understand that you cannot separate

out the art process from the therapeutic process in art therapy. There is no arts and crafts

portion in art therapy - it is all art therapy, and the therapeutic process is achieved

through the art-making” (The Art Therapy Project).

It hurts to see how many problems the human race has created for themselves/others i.e racism,

stereotypes, stigmas, bullying, discrimination, hate, war and so many more. As I read an article

about a young woman who sees the problems and stigmas and wants to help, it only provides me

with some hope for society and our future.

“Significantly, an antistigma arts intervention can be conducted by any aware

practitioner; one does not need to be an art therapist or have any background in art, only a

desire to make a difference and resources on which to draw” according to Lamb.

Art can be messy or organized, it is purely up to you and it can be such a great feeling to see

what you created and the feelings it can bring others around you.

    In the end, art is something everyone can do and emotion is something everyone feels. No

matter the talent you possess or the amount of feelings you hold within, you can improve your

life. You do not have to be at your lowest point to get help through art therapy, but you also

don’t need to shy away when you might need it the most. Help is everywhere and without it, it

can feel hopeless or crippling in strength, but as humans we have the desire to keep pushing

forward. Art may not be interesting to you or you may believe you aren’t talented enough, but I

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highly recommend turning to art in your time of need, what is the worst that could happen if you

do? Although you may not get the results you wish, you never quite know until you try and, if

you struggle on your own, that is when you reach out to a professional. It is never too late to

better yourself and you are never ever weak if you ask for help and admit temporary defeat. I

have never felt such difficult and struggling times as when it comes to the battlefield of my own

mind, but I know I will be at peace one day. I can’t wait for when I am sitting down and realize

how silent my thoughts are, and it will be terrifyingly beautiful and I will be happy. In the

meantime, I will continue to express myself through the arts and learn more about the cards I was

dealt, and I can only hope you will too.

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 Works Cited

Bloggers, ATB. “Inspiring Others to Create with Expressive Arts.” Art Therapy, 2007,

www.arttherapyblog.com/.

Board, AATA. American Art Therapy Association, 2017, arttherapy.org/. 

Cherry, Kendra. “How Does Art Therapy Work for Patients?” Verywell Mind, 2020,

www.verywellmind.com/what-is-art-therapy-2795755. 

Dresden, Danielle. “Art Therapy: Definition, Uses, and How It Works.” Medical News

Today, MediLexicon International, 2020, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/art-

therapy. 

Farris, Emma. “Art Therapy POV.” 23 Mar. 2021.

Gibson, Diana. “A Visual Conversation With Trauma: Visual Journaling in Art Therapy to

Combat Vicarious Trauma.” Art Therapy, vol. 35, no. 2, 2018, pp. 99–103.,

doi:10.1080/07421656.2018.1483166.

Greguska, Clarissa, and Renee Tate. “Using Art in the Context of Play Therapy.” MAPT

Regional Workshop. MAPT Regional Workshop, 6 Dec. 2014.

Greguska, Clarissa. “Art Therapist POV.” 5 Mar. 2021. 

Lamb, Jennifer. “Creating Change: Using the Arts to Help Stop the Stigma of Mental

Illness and Foster Social Integration - Jennifer Lamb, 2009.” SAGE Journals, 2009,

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0898010108323011.

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Malchiodi, Cathy A. The Art Therapy Sourcebook. McGraw-Hill, 2010. 

Staff, ATP. The Art Therapy Project, 2020, thearttherapyproject.org/. 

Team, Members. “Art Therapy.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 2021,

www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/art-therapy. 

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