For thousands of years, art has been a way in which humans have expressed themselves. From ancient times, to modern day, art connects and inspires people.
Art therapy uses art in a way that helps people work through the complexities within their own minds.
The history of art therapy dates back to 1942, when the term was founded by the British artist, Adrian Hill. During this time, many people were confined as they suffered from tuberculosis, and doctors found that patients benefited greatly from painting, as it provided an outlet and a sense of freedom.
The practice became official in 1964, when the British Association of Art Therapists was founded, and helped advance the therapy.
Art therapy was used after WW2 as a way for soldiers who suffered from PTSD to express their trauma in a way that helped them recover and transition back into regular life.
Studies from the present have proven that there is a link between art and positive trends in mental health. Creating art can increase serotonin levels and increase blood flow to the brain, which triggers positive emotions in the brain. Depression, anxiety, dementia, schizophrenia and many other psychological disorders can all benefit from the practice of art and art therapy.
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy used by therapists around the world in order to help them better understand their patients and help their patients understand themselves.