Art Therapy, or art as therapy, allows modern man to turn his attention from the outer world to his own inner processes. The exercise of art has great intrinsic value as it is truly a healing method.
The American Art Therapy Association believes "through creating art and reflecting on the art process and product, people can experience increased awareness of self and others, can better cope with distressing symptoms, stress, traumatic experience, enhancing cognitive abilities and enjoy the life enhancing process of art."
Margaret Naumberg, facilitator of the Art Therapy undergraduate program at New York University and founder of the Walden School in New York City, viewed art making as a "technique equal to verbal therapy in its natural and evocative power to unlock repressed material."
Feelings and thoughts expressed through images may flow more freely than words.
Influenced by John Dewey and Karl Jung, Naumberg felt "that the art can become a bridge between the self, the outer world and one's relation to the world."
With time and reflection, one's art brings a deeper understanding of the emotional state, the self perception and perhaps even the pain.
Thomas Merton, the American Catholic Writer, summed it up best when he said "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."
No comments:
Post a Comment