Page 13 - ART FORM AND MENTAL HEALTH - Ingrid Pénzes

INTRODUCTION
Art therapy is an experiential treatment that consists of the interaction between the client, the therapist and the art form. The specific and systematic use of the art form – the use of art materials in an art-making process resulting in an art product – is what differentiates art therapy from other forms of treatment (Edwards, 2013; Hinz, 2009, 2015; Jones, 2005; Moon Hyland, 2010; Rubin, 2011; Schaverien, 2000, Schweizer et al., 2009). In addition to the interaction between therapist and client, as in other therapies, the art form adds a third cornerstone to the therapy context (see Figure 1).
The art form is therapeutically applied to initiate experiences that allow processes of change, development, stabilization or acceptance that support emotional, behavioral, cognitive, social, neurological or physical aspects of functioning (American Art Therapy Association [AATA], 2019; British Association of Art Therapists [BAAT], 2019). In order to therapeutically apply the art form, the therapist observes how a client uses and interacts with the art materials. Art therapy observation and assessment, before or at the beginning of therapy, is considered to be a key to estimate what the client’s problem is, to determine whether a client may benefit from art therapy, to formulate treatment goals and to apply the appropriate art interventions (Gilroy, Tipple & Brown, 2012; Hinz, 2009, 2015; Malchiodi, 2012).
Art therapy
Therapist
Figure 1: The art therapy triad
Client
General introduction | 11
Art form
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