In this section, we talk about Art as Therapy approach in place of Traditional Talk-Therapy and Counseling. Art Therapy can be an alternative therapy for traditional psychotherapy when working on mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. In addition, Art Therapy functions as an adjunct to primary therapy such as counseling/psychotherapy and/or medical treatment. Art Therapy is used as a part of cancer treatment, an activity to keep seniors active in the nursing home, alternative self esteem activity at school, and more.

Adults

• Anxiety and Depression Though Art Therapy, you will be guided to learn how to handle your emotions efficiently. Various tactile media also help you to calm down and gain energy to cope with daily stress,
• Life Transition Art Therapy helps you to externalize and visualize difficulties caused by life transition such as divorce, separation from your loved ones, losing a job and moving to a new place etc. By looking at your difficulties objectively, you can work on solutions for your problems and to balance all aspects of life.
• Chronic Illness You may often focus on your illness, instead of seeing yourself as a whole person. Art Therapy helps you to see positive aspects of your life and to discover the joy of creation and expression of yourself.
• Physical Challenges Physical challenges caused by accidents or neurological illness are overwhelming. Loss of abilities and the sudden dependence on others are tough issues to encompass. Art Therapy can provide you an opportunity for and a sense of independence. I provide appropriate media to create your expressive work depending on your individual circumstances.
• Loss and Grief Although it is a part of our life, losing a loved one is very difficult. In Art Therapy, we can create a memory book using old photos and other objects that you can cut and paste. You create a one of a kind memory book filled with photos, essays and art work to represent a celebrated life.
• Aging As we experience different stages of life; childhood, young adulthood, middle age, senior age, our life styles change as well as out general health. It is very important to take care of ourselves by eating right, exercising and keeping ourselves active while managing daily stress effectively and maintaining good mental health. In art therapy, we can work on how to balance all aspects of life and enjoy every day.
• Difficulty expressing yourself in Talk Therapy You may have anxiety and worries but are not comfortable talking about yourself. Art Therapy will provide an opportunity to express your feelings and come up with alternative solutions.
• Overwhelmed by Anger You wonder why you are angry and cranky most of the time? Through art therapy, you can learn positive ways to express anger and increase life coping skills.
• Like making things You may want to experience the creative process of art therapy by drawing, painting, cutting, gluing, or working with clay, with a therapist's support. This may give you time to spend just for yourself and rejuvenate yourself.
• Very Stressed You may want to experience the calming aspects of art therapy. For example, touching natural clay is very relaxing and creating works out of clay helps you to regain a sense of control and accomplishment.

These examples are just a beginning. Art is therapeutic in many ways.

Children

Children often come to art therapy due to;

• Life Transition and adjustment problems due to parental separation, divorce and blended families, relocation, birth of siblings etc. Art Therapy facilitates their expression of hard to talk about issues.
• Grief and Loss Children will be helped to recognize various feelings toward the deceased loved one. During the process, they will make a special art therapy memory book to help their grieving process.
• Learning Disorders and academic struggle
• Cognitive Delays Art Therapy is a wonderful media to help children who often have difficulties expressing themselves verbally. Art gives them joy!
• Attachment related issues due to adoption and foster placement
• Autism Spectrum Disorders (see details in Autism Page)
• Abuse/Trauma Talking about abusive and traumatizing memories is extremely hard. Art therapy helps children to relax and facilitate expression and transition in the healing process.
• Social Skill Problems Using the visual social skill learning work book, children learn and practice better problem solving skills. Art therapy social skill groups are forming.
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Children are able to express their feelings and thoughts in their art works with less hesitation than adults. Their art works also reflect their developmental stages. In younger children, creation is focused on fun; as they get older, they are more conscious of their skills.

Very Young Children When children began scribbling, they are amazed by how their movements leave a mark on the paper. In this age group, I use art media to stimulate their senses and want to them to have fun as they develop skills. It is best for them to be accompanied by their parents/guardians. Preschool/Kindergarten Age By this time, children developing in a typical manner are able to make symbols and figures in their art works. In Art Therapy, they can make stories based on their art works and help them, their caregivers and therapist to identify difficulties in their lives and alternative ways to deal with them.

Children with neurological, medical conditions and/or cognitive delays. Each child is unique and it would not be productive to generalize them or their therapy. I have extensive experience working with children with different challenges and I love working with them. Some children with Autism Spectrum Disorders are visually oriented and art therapy can be used as a part of early intervention to increase normalized behaviors or foster their special talents to increase self esteem. See the Autism Spectrum Disorders page.