Art Therapy with Adult Individuals

By Dorit Netzer M.A. ATR-BC, LCAT

Visual expression is typically abandoned in favor of verbal expression once we master the skills of reading and writing. But we all continue to dream in images and remember past events in vivid visual terms.

Sometimes, our words and rational thinking help guard us from fully experiencing past pain and unresolved issues. Although necessary for survival, these mechanisms block growth, healing, and healthier connections to others.

The use of imagery in psychotherapy, especially for those individuals who do not use art expression in their daily life, has been shown to result in unique access to suppressed childhood wounds. The person’s own imagery gently reveals areas of unresolved issues that keep being played out in the individual’s present life and relationships. As the therapeutic process unfolds, the imagery changes to reflect healthier capacities and responses to life’s challenges.

One does not need to know how to draw to do art therapy. Intuitive use of color and form generates imagery that does not have to resemble anything in our exterior world, but rather mirrors our interior in a way words cannot. I often remind my clients that it is not important what they draw (or paint, Sculpt, etc.), but rather how they approach their art  is the most important part of their expression. The choice of colors and media, pressure and rhythm are all important elements in the creation of an image as a reflection of the Self.

A client once said: “I drew what I needed to see… I saw what I needed to know.” This is the beauty of art therapy. It is a gentle process that allows the individual to shape and pace his/her own growth.