What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is type of psychotherapy that utilizes art as a modality in addition to verbal communication. Art therapists are educated according to standards set forth by the American Art Therapy Association at a Master's degree level, having completed their Bachelor's degree most often in either psychology or fine arts. Art therapists are employed by hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, schools, hospices, assisted living facilities, halway houses, and private practices, to name a few.

How Does Art Therapy Help the Elderly?
When working with the elderly, a variety of benefits can be gained from art therapy. A group therapy program, Art & Soul usually does not delve into heavy emotional issues, though there is certainly the capacity for this to happen. More often, clients come together as a group to utilize choice and independence in a free-thinking atmosphere. Sessions may focus on reminiscing, leaving behind a legacy, gift-making, and contemplating hypothetical situations such as "If you could be anyone or do anything, who/what would you be and what would you do?" Additionally, on a more concrete level, art-making works fine and (at times) gross motor skills, and clients of the Art & Soul program have remarked that after participation in the program for a number of weeks, they have better mastery of their hands.

How Is Art Therapy Different from Crafts or Art Classes?
Art classes and craft sessions focus primarily on creating an aesthetically pleasing piece of artwork as the final product. Oftentimes, if the client is having a hard time with completing the necessary steps to create the finished piece, the instructor will provide hands-on assistance. Many art therapists try to let the client do as much of the art-making as possible to foster independence and a sense of accomplishment, even if the resulting piece of art looks vastly different than expected. If the client becomes frustrated or is having difficulty to the point that the experience is not enjoyable, the therapist will intervene and provide enough assistance as is necessary. Both art classes and art therapy sessions have value, and when deciding which to utilize, one should consider what they hope to gain from the session. Art classes teach techniques and often result in a lovely piece of artwork, while art therapy focuses little on the finished product and more on the creative process and the individual journey in creating the art. Both types of sessions are available through Art & Soul.

What Is the Fee Per Hour for Art & Soul?
Fees are applied per session. Some sessions may last only an hour, others may take a little longer depending a variety of factors, many of which have to do with the individual clients making up the group. Please contact Briana for rates.

If you have any other questions, please contact Briana via email using the link on the left.