What is Art Therapy?
The Healing Power of Art Therapy
“Art therapy helps people express their feelings when words cannot,” says Sarah Deaver, president of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA). This simple truth captures the heart of what makes art therapy such a transformative experience.
Art therapy blends creativity with the principles of psychotherapy, offering a meaningful way to support emotional healing, personal growth, and overall well-being. With guidance from a trained professional, individuals use the process of making art to explore thoughts and emotions that may be difficult to express verbally.
Whether someone has experienced trauma, illness, loss, or simply wants to know themselves more deeply, art therapy provides a safe, supportive environment for reflection and discovery. Through creating and discussing artwork, clients gain new insight into their inner world and the experiences that shape them.
How Art Therapy Helps
At its core, art therapy uses the creative process — the materials, the making, and the artwork itself — as a pathway to healing and self-understanding. People of all ages can benefit, including children, teens, adults, and older adults. Art therapy can help individuals:
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Explore and express emotions
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Resolve inner conflicts
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Build self-awareness
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Manage behaviors and impulses
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Strengthen social and communication skills
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Improve focus and reality orientation
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Reduce stress and anxiety
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Boost confidence and self-esteem
A Flexible, Inclusive Approach
Art therapy welcomes everyone. It can be practiced individually, with couples or families, or in group settings — each format offering meaningful opportunities for connection, insight, and growth.
This evidence-based practice supports individuals facing developmental, medical, educational, social, or psychological challenges. A central goal is to enhance or restore personal functioning while promoting resilience and a deeper sense of well-being.
Most importantly, art therapy is not an art class. No artistic experience or skill is required. Instead, the focus is on the healing that emerges through creative exploration, grounded in the science of human development, psychological theory, and counseling techniques. It’s not about creating a masterpiece — it’s about understanding yourself in new and meaningful ways.
Meet our Art Therapist
Laurie Moyer, LMHC, LCAC, ATR
Laurie is a registered art therapist with over 20 years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families.
She specializes in supportive therapy designed to meet the client’s needs utilizing a combination of therapeutic approaches.
Offering art therapy to those individuals to express their feelings when they can’t find the words, as well as offering traditional talk therapy. Laurie offers reliable therapeutic skills and the opportunity for healing through creative expression.
View more information on our Art Therapist, Laurie Moyer
FAQ’s from the website of Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc.
Who uses art therapy?
According to the American Art Therapy Association (AATA):
“Art therapy is practiced in mental health, rehabilitation, medical, educational, forensic, wellness, private practice and community settings with diverse client populations in individual, couples, family and group therapy formats. Art therapy is an effective treatment for people experiencing developmental, medical, educational and social or psychological impairment.”
You may find art therapists working with clients in nursing homes or schools, medical practices or corporations, community organizations or with specialized groups or populations.
What does art therapy address or treat?
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) reports:
“Individuals who benefit from art therapy include those who have survived trauma resulting from combat, abuse and natural disaster; persons with adverse physical health conditions such as cancer, traumatic brain injury, and other health disability; and persons with autism, dementia, depression and other disorders. Art therapy helps people resolve conflicts, improve interpersonal skills, manage problematic behaviors, reduce negative stress and achieve personal insight. Art therapy also provides an opportunity to enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of art making.”
How long has art therapy been around?
Art therapy as a deliberate focus and practice began in the 1940s. The British Association of Art Therapists was founded in 1964. The American Association of Art Therapists was founded in 1969.
In 1993, the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) was founded to protect the public by promoting the competent and ethical practice of art therapy. It manages the credentialing and testing processes of art therapists (in alignment with the AATA) to ensure the professional and high-caliber practice of the profession.
What is involved in art therapy?
Art therapists rely on their knowledge of the research and practice of therapy as well as specific techniques shown to be useful in specific situations. Often the process involves looking at what is included or represented in a client’s artwork – but also what is missing.
Art therapy is not an art class, although the process can involve learning art techniques and enjoying the creative process. The art therapy process is generally focused on the client’s inner world and ways to identify and express their experience or perspective.
What should I look for in an art therapist?
Look for an art therapist who has knowledge of and/or experience similar to your needs or those you are hoping to help (age, gender, nationality, circumstance, setting, etc.). Also consider the issues: trauma, disability, illness, behavioral or relationships challenges and so forth. Ask questions of your potential art therapist to understand their experience, expertise and interest.
Also ask questions about their qualifications. If you look for the ATR or ATR-BC credential you can be assured your art therapist has a high-caliber of education, training and experience. Registered Art Therapists (ATRs) have demonstrated a rigorous level of education and training. Board Certified Art Therapists (ATR-BCs) have the added credential if they pass a comprehensive national exam.
Source: https://www.atcb.org/