1 Running Head: ART THERAPY Expressive Arts Therapy: Art Therapy Emily Brooks, Cassie Hurst, Janice Mattie, and Chelsea Sheridan Brenau University History and Development of Art Therapy Over the history of psychology, many practitioners have been drawn to the use of artistic expression while working with clients. This practice dates to 1912. German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin and Karl Jaspers notice drawings by the patients could be beneficial in understanding psychopathology. Freud and Jung both had theories that state art expression plays a vital role in psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Freud believed in an unconscious mind, while Jung believed in universal archetypes. Jung explored his psyche, along with his patients through art expressions (Malchiodi, 2007, p.16). Art therapy has only existed since the mid-20th century. It is based on a variety of artistic forms. This kind of treatment sees the person as a creative being. This therapy allows the client to be the artist of their own story (Reis, 2014). British artist Adrian Hill knew how important it was for one to be their artist. While working with a tuberculosis patient, this idea became very relevant. Margaret Naumburg is recognized as one of the earliest practitioners to define art therapy and its form. She proposed that images were a form of symbolic speech (Malchiodi, 2007, p.17). Donald Winnicott, a child psychiatrist, saw the value of this therapy. He believed art to be a transitional object. Winnicott knew this therapy to reflect one's thoughts and feelings. Using this type of reflection, you would be able to define the conflicts as well. Many have gone on to specialize in this field. Art therapy has specialized education and standards of practice. Counselors and social workers working with children find this treatment engaging. Experimental activities provide children a way of expressing their emotions (Malchiodi, 2007, p.17). Some see art therapy as a hybrid that forms from both art and psychology. The formations of these two fields generated two different theories on why art therapy is useful. The first sees art expression as a form of visual language that creates an outlet for people to express feelings in which they would not usually be able to put into words. The second theory claims that this type of expression can be a way to communicate a problematic past. Many victims of sexual, verbal, or physical abuse find emotional relief (Malchiodi, 2007, p.18). Many mental and medical settings have influenced art therapy as a form of intervention. Art therapy was used primarily before in psychiatric and day treatment facilities to help better communicate with those who have a mental illness. However, art therapy has evolved and has been multiplying. This therapy is known as a vital tool to help treat those suffering from substance abuse, trauma, eating, and behavioral disorders. With new preventative health programs emerging art therapy has become a more.

1. 1
Running Head: ART THERAPY
Expressive Arts Therapy: Art Therapy
Emily Brooks, Cassie Hurst, Janice Mattie, and Chelsea
Sheridan
Brenau University
History and Development of Art Therapy
Over the history of psychology, many practitioners have been
drawn to the use of artistic expression while working with
clients. This practice dates to 1912. German psychiatrist Emil
Kraepelin and Karl Jaspers notice drawings by the patients
could be beneficial in understanding psychopathology. Freud
and Jung both had theories that state art expression plays a vital
role in psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Freud believed in
an unconscious mind, while Jung believed in universal
archetypes. Jung explored his psyche, along with his patients

2. through art expressions (Malchiodi, 2007, p.16).
Art therapy has only existed since the mid-20th century. It is
based on a variety of artistic forms. This kind of treatment sees
the person as a creative being. This therapy allows the client to
be the artist of their own story (Reis, 2014). British artist
Adrian Hill knew how important it was for one to be their artist.
While working with a tuberculosis patient, this idea became
very relevant. Margaret Naumburg is recognized as one of the
earliest practitioners to define art therapy and its form. She
proposed that images were a form of symbolic speech
(Malchiodi, 2007, p.17).
Donald Winnicott, a child psychiatrist, saw the value of this
therapy. He believed art to be a transitional object. Winnicott
knew this therapy to reflect one's thoughts and feelings. Using
this type of reflection, you would be able to define the conflicts
as well. Many have gone on to specialize in this field. Art
therapy has specialized education and standards of practice.
Counselors and social workers working with children find this
treatment engaging. Experimental activities provide children a
way of expressing their emotions (Malchiodi, 2007, p.17).
Some see art therapy as a hybrid that forms from both art and
psychology. The formations of these two fields generated two
different theories on why art therapy is useful. The first sees art
expression as a form of visual language that creates an outlet
for people to express feelings in which they would not usually
be able to put into words. The second theory claims that this
type of expression can be a way to communicate a problematic
past. Many victims of sexual, verbal, or physical abuse find
emotional relief (Malchiodi, 2007, p.18).
Many mental and medical settings have influenced art therapy
as a form of intervention. Art therapy was used primarily before
in psychiatric and day treatment facilities to help better
communicate with those who have a mental illness. However,
art therapy has evolved and has been multiplying. This therapy
is known as a vital tool to help treat those suffering from
substance abuse, trauma, eating, and behavioral disorders. With

3. new preventative health programs emerging art therapy has
become a more traditional form of medical intervention. This
therapy is used among adults, couples, and families (Malchiodi,
2007, p.17).
The Use, Efficacy, and Limitations of Art Therapy
Art therapist uses art therapy explicitly to help clients
work on their self-esteem, manage addictions, reduce stress, and
cope with illness or PTSD resulting from a traumatic event.
This type of therapy is often used as a tool to help clients of all
ages, delve into their inner thoughts and emotions. It provides
them with the opportunity to visualize their emotions externally.
Through the art‑making process and exploration of the artwork,
unconscious and conscious thoughts, feelings and fantasies can
be expressed (Edwards, 2004). Artistic talent is not needed for
art therapy to be successful. The therapeutic process is not
about the quality of the work, but the associations made
between the creative piece and the client's inner emotions. The
artistic work can be used as a conversation starter during a
therapy session. Some clients may find it difficult to talk
directly to a therapist about sensitive issues. Using the artwork
as the focus of attention may allow the client to see that it is
more comfortable to speak to the therapist regarding sensitive
topics. Making an image, whether a drawing, a painting, or a
sculpture, is an experience of visual thinking and can be an
additional source of information for both the client and
therapist (Malchiodi, 2007, p19).
Art therapy is not without limitations. Art therapy is often used
in the form of group therapy, taking place with one counselor
with multiple clients. Art therapy can also be used as a form of
independent treatment which can be beneficial to individuals
seeking to do treatment privately. Although artistic talent is not
needed for art therapy to be successful, individuals who do not
have artistic background or expertise may find this form of
therapy to be intimidating and not beneficial to them. They
may be more reluctant to participate in the session.
Expressive therapy refers to a form of treatment that makes use

4. of the creative process to reach healing. Expressive therapy is
based on the idea that by awakening the creative or imaginative
side of the client, the therapist can get an insight into the
emotions, feelings and thought processes of the individual. The
therapists can then make use of the information obtained from
the expressive art of the individual to work out a way to help
the client overcome the problems he is facing. The therapists
behind the expressive art concept follow the argument that
many people may find it hard to express themselves using
language which defeats the purpose and aims of a therapy
session. The therapists believe communication with the clients
can be achieved in other ways other than language
communication and they, therefore, employ the use of art.
Expressive therapies usually do not require the client to be a
talented artist to achieve the goals of the therapy process. The
expressive art therapy relies on the process of creating the art
product and less on the finished product.
An example of a case where expressive art therapy can be
applied is for a retired soldier who was involved in active
combat. Soldiers who have been engaged in intense battle have
a hard time when they retire or after their service period is over,
and when they have returned home to normal society. The life
and conditions in the battlefield are usually severe, and life-
changing as the soldiers experience humanity in one of its worst
forms. The soldiers in active war find themselves killing other
people and destroying property in the name of serving the
country. The soldiers also get to witness their close friends get
killed or tortured by the enemy in the worst possible ways
leaving them traumatized for life. The memories from war
coupled with the miserable living conditions they may come to
live in the normal society go the ex-soldiers depressed and
frustrated with life and suffering from conditions such as post-
traumatic stress disorder. Expressive art therapy will help ex-
soldiers reveal their deepest thoughts and worries where they
may, for example, show the pain of losing friends or the
emotions they are harboring.

5. Expressive art therapy can also be used for clients who are
under a lot of stress in their lives and are looking into treatment
to help relax. The tension in the client's life may be from a high
demanding job or when the individual is overwhelmed by
everyday responsibilities and expectations. The expressive art
therapy will help reveal the main worries of the client and make
him relax when he focuses on art and being creating instead of
the problems in his life. After he can relax, the therapist can
then guide him to put his life in order by arranging the things to
be done in his life by order of their importance or priority.
References
Malchiodi, C. A. (Ed.). (2013). Expressive therapies. Guilford
Publications.
Malchiodi, C. A. (2007). Expressive therapies (pp. 17-19). New
York: The Guildford Press.
Reis, A. C. d. (2014). Art therapy: Art as an instrument in the
work of the psychologist. Psicologia: Ciencia e Profissao, 34(1),
142-157.
doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.brenau.edu/10.1590/S1414-
98932014000100011

6. References
Edwards, E. (2004). Art therapy. Sage: London.
Malchiodi, C. A. (2007). Expressive therapies (pp. 17-19). New
York: The Guildford Press.
Reis, A. C. d. (2014). Art therapy: Art as an instrument in the
work of the psychologist. Psicologia: Ciencia e Profissao, 34(1),
142-157.
doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.brenau.edu/10.1590/S1414-
98932014000100011
Running Head: ART THERAPY
1

7. Expressive Arts Therapy: Art Therapy
Emily Brooks, Cassie Hurst, Janice Mattie
, and Chelsea Sheridan
Brenau University