Discussion 4: The Interaction Between Art and Therapy

Example 1：Why is it important for art therapists to know about art, about therapy, and about the interaction between the two?

It is important for art therapists to know about art, about therapy, and the interaction between the two because it then allows the patients to really experience the benefits of what art therapy is used for. All art therapists are also artists and therefore have had experience with different art processes. “ Such experience is the best way to get to know them, and to help others learn to use them in a comfortable way” (Edith Kramer, Chapter 4) Knowing art and sharing your own personal experiences helps the patients feel more comfortable sharing their experiences and then knowing about therapy the therapist can then understand the “symbolic expression and translate any artistic meaning” (Kramer)

Reply：I agree that the main focus should be on the benefits on the patient. Getting to know a patient and making sure they feel the most comfortable that they can is one of the most important parts of art therapy. If an art therapist is uncomfortable or lacking in knowledge it could also potentially make the patient very uncomfortable therefore hindering the therapy process.

Example 2：It is important for art therapists to know about art, about therapy, and about the interaction between the two so they can do the best job in assisting their clients and making sure they are accurately helping to treat whatever their clients are going through. It is important for anyone to have adequate knowledge of their field of work especially if they are working professionally. In order to do the best job possible, experts need to be as well educated as possible. For art therapists this just means having adequate knowledge in art, in therapy, and especially in the interaction between the two. The interaction is essential because without it, the purpose is defeated. An art therapist must be well versed in different art style, mediums, and techniques, as well as know how to properly administer therapy to a client. If an art therapist is lacking in any of these areas it could potentially be bad for the patient.

Reply： Hi Alexis! I agree with how you described what the art therapist must understand and be trained in considering the art portion, although maybe a bit more detail about what they must understand for therapy would help your discussion as well! I do like how you mentioned if one is working professionally they must understand art and therapy, because as I was taught in my introductory psychology class, not all people who practice counseling are trained in psychology and in what they are doing, and I assume it is the same for art therapists, at least in some form, like our discussion last week of how art therapy was/is used incorrectly.

Example 3：It is important for art therapists to be trained in both art, therapy, and the interaction between the two for many reasons. To understand the art portion of art therapy is to understand a variety of materials, processes, and to have experience working with both. An important reason to understand art is to help a patient with issues while using art, so for example, an art therapist has to discern what materials and tools each specific client will work best with, while also creating a safe environment, regardless of what kind of environment is worked in. Also, imagine if an art therapist didn't genuinely care for art, what would be the point? So an art therapist must have a genuine interest, or even love, for art and for continuing their art education. Another important part of the art portion of art therapy is being able to understand and decipher the artistic process that a client is performing. As for the therapy part of art therapy, one must understand the normal development of a person and art development to understand where a deviation may be. Finally, the therapy part involves three major theories of personality and psychological functioning; what is wrong, what is right, and how best to help, or in other words how to help diagnose or work with a diagnosis, or issues. Again, imagine an art therapist who didn't know anything about therapy? It would feel more like an art class rather than therapy and would most likely have no positive impact. As for the interaction between art and therapy, one without the other would not be considered art therapy. Art without therapy is just regular art without an understanding of how to actually help and improve a client, while therapy without art is just regular talk therapy.