Art Therapist is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to explore and improve a person’s feelings, emotional conflicts, and behaviours. The creative process and the resulting artwork helps people resolve stress and anxiety, develop new social skills, and improve self-esteem and awareness. They can help individuals, couples, families, or groups of people regardless of sex, age, or ethnicity. Through art and the creative process, art therapists are trained to pick up on unspoken symbols and metaphors; concepts that are usually difficult to express with words. Through this process, individuals can really begin to see the results of art therapy and the improvements that can be made in their lives. Other forms of therapy prompt the use of words or language as a means of communication. However, there are times when humans are incapable of expressing themselves within this limited range. Art therapists help their clients get involved in the creation of art in order to encourage personal development, increase coping skills, and improve their quality of cognitive function. Art Therapy is a fantastic field that has proven to work wonders in many people’s lives. Art therapists can help people who are struggling with frightening memories or upsetting emotions resulting from abuse, combat, cancer, traumatic brain injury, and other health disabilities; and can also help people with anti-social personality, depression, autism, dementia, and other disorders. Clients do not need to be talented or artistic in order to experience the benefits of art therapy; an art therapist's job is not to teach or critique the artwork , and use psychotherapeutic counseling techniques to develop personal growth, encourage self-awareness, and teach coping skills. The duties of Art Therapist typically includes to meeting patients or clients and arranging activities and sessions for planning and facilitating activities, and maintaining the workshop and equipment. They also listen to patients or clients and advising them on suitable activities and helping patients or clients to see the systems and practices at their disposal to help them overcome their problems. They are also engaged in organising and carrying out one-on-one and group workshops and liaising with other mental health professionals and doctors. They also need to attend seminars, workshops and conferences to discuss treatment methods and share ideas and experience.

Work Environment

• Art therapy is a vast field, and has been used on a variety of individuals; from young children to the elderly, prisoners to war veterans and individuals with psychological disorders to physical disabilities. Art therapists can work in hospitals, rehabilitation care units, clinical research facilities, wellness centres, assisted living centres, psychiatric facilities, detention centres, forensic institutions, crisis centres, senior communities and schools. Their clients can range from single individuals, couples, families, and groups.