What is Art Therapy ?

According to the American Art Therapy Association, Art therapy is a human service profession that utilizes art media, images, creative art processes and the resulting artwork as a therapeutic and healing process.

The combination of two disciplines: art and psychology is what makes up art therapy.

Therapeutic art is a powerful tool used by a life coach to help clients unlock the power of their subconscious mind, allowing them to release pain, process emotions and find clarity

and meaning.

Art has been used throughout human history to express the depths of human experience because our minds understand the abstract or symbols at a deeper level than language.

In his book Secrets of True Happiness, in one of his poems is entitled "Creativity", Tai Sheridan said :

" When you are creative, life flows through you”

And the idea of using art therapeutically is based on the concept of creativity and enjoying creativity without standards which is true happiness.

There are a number of similarities between therapists and coaches for instance both work one to one with patients.

Psychological and principles and theoretical frameworks are used in both.

However there are clear boundaries between them due to the legal obligations and requirements for practicing therapy including a master’s degree in a licensed mental health to treat things such as mental illness and post trauma syndromes, provide medical advice and engage a diagnosis.

While a life coach's role is to facilitate self-reflection, decision making, planning for the future and really taking action to create life changes.

Life coaches can also use therapeutic art as powerful, powerful tool to really help clients overcome limiting thoughts and behaviors that really hold them back from accomplishing their goals.

It can also help people reduce stress and really be able to re-center themselves as well as increase their well-being.

But he can’t use tools in attempts to attempt to treat people who have been diagnosed or who have mental illness or experiencing severe anxiety and depression which should be being treated really by trained mental health professionals.

People with symptoms of mental illness or anxiety depression should refer clients to an appropriate licensed professional.