Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

Expressive Art Therapy

Dr. Tamanna Saxena
 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

• The expressive therapies are defined as the use of art, music, dance/movement, drama,
poetry/creative writing, play, and sandtray within the context of psychotherapy,
counseling, rehabilitation, or health care.

• Expressive therapies are also considered “creative arts therapies”—specifically, art,

music, dance/movement, drama, and poetry/creative writing according to the National
Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations (2004a; hereafter abbreviated as
NCCATA).

• Expressive therapies are sometimes referred to as “integrative approaches” when

purposively used in combination in treatment
 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

Art therapy
• Art therapy uses art media, images, and the creative process, and
respects patient/client responses to the created products as
reflections of development, abilities, personality, interests,
concerns, and conflicts.
• It is a therapeutic means of reconciling emotional conflicts,
fostering self-awareness, developing social skills, managing
behavior, solving problems, reducing anxiety, aiding reality
orientation, and increasing self-esteem (American Art Therapy
Association, 2004).
 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

Music Therapy
Music therapy uses music to effect positive changes in the
psychological, physical, cognitive, or social functioning of individuals
with health or educational problems (American Music Therapy
Association, 2004).
Poetry therapy and bibliotherapy

Poetry therapy and bibliotherapy are terms used synonymously to

describe the intentional use of poetry and other forms of literature for
healing and personal growth (NCCATA, 2004c). Samuel McChord
Crothers coined the term, “bibliotherapy,” in the 20th century
 Poetry therapy Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

• Therapists can use it with people of all ages and backgrounds, and clients do not need to
have any prior experience with poetry.
– The therapist may use poetry as a way to help their client reach their treatment goals.
For example, they might encourage a child who has experienced abuse to read poems
about anger as a way to better identify their own angry feelings.
– The imagery and metaphors a client uses in poetry may offer a window into the
emotional connections they have. For example, metaphors associated with
abandonment may help the therapist identify or confirm attachment issues.
• In therapy sessions involving poetry, clients may write poetry, read poetry, or share poetry
with others. Depending on the goals of treatment, they may write or read poetry with the
guidance and help of the therapist, or they may use it as a way of focusing on their
treatment goals between sessions.
 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

Drama therapy
• Drama therapy is the systematic and intentional use of drama/ theatre processes,
products, and associations to achieve the therapeutic goals of symptom relief,
emotional and physical integration, and personal growth.
• The first use of Dramatherapy as a term in the UK was in the 1930's was by Peter
Slade, an actor. He had been interested in children's play and had used it in a
paper which was submitted to the British Medical Association.
• It is an active approach that helps the client tell his or her story to solve a
problem, achieve a catharsis, extend the depth and breadth of inner experience,
understand the meaning of images, and strengthen the ability to observe personal
roles while increasing flexibility between roles (National Drama Therapy
Association, 2004).
Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences
 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

Dance/Movement therapy
• Dance/movement therapy is based on the assumption that body and
mind are interrelated and is defined as the psychotherapeutic use of
movement as a process that furthers the emotional, cognitive, and
physical integration of the individual.
• Marian Chace spearheaded the movement of dance in the medical
community as a form of therapy. She is considered the principal
founder of what is now dance therapy in the United States.
• Dance/movement therapy effects changes in feelings, cognition,
physical functioning, and behavior (NCCATA, 2004b).
Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences
 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

Play Therapy
• Play therapy is the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an
interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic
powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial
difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development (Boyd-Webb,
1999; Landreth, 1991).

• APT defines play therapy as "the systematic use of a theoretical model

to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use
the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve
psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development."
 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

• Play therapy is a structured, theoretically based approach to therapy that

builds on the normal communicative and learning processes of children
(Carmichael, 2006; Landreth, 2002; O'Connor & Schaefer, 1983).
• The curative powers inherent in play are used in many ways. Therapists
strategically utilize play therapy to help children express what is troubling
them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts
and feelings (Gil, 1991).
• In play therapy, toys are like the child's words and play is the child's
language (Landreth, 2002).
• Play therapy builds on the natural way that children learn about
themselves and their relationships in the world around them (Axline, 1947;
Carmichael, 2006; Landreth, 2002).
Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences
Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences
 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

Sandplay therapy
• Sandplay therapy is a creative form of psychotherapy that
uses a sandbox and a large collection of miniatures to enable
a client to explore the deeper layers of the psyche in a totally
new format.

• By constructing a series of “sand pictures,” a client is helped

to illustrate and integrate his or her psychological condition.
Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences
 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

Virtual Sandtray Therapy

• https://www.onlinesandtray.com/
 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

Integrated arts approach or Intermodal therapy

• Integrated arts approach or intermodal (also known as multimodal)
therapy involves two or more expressive therapies to foster
awareness, encourage emotional growth, and enhance relationships
with others.
• Intermodal therapy distinguishes itself from its closely allied
disciplines of art therapy, music therapy, dance/movement therapy,
and drama therapy by being grounded in the interrelatedness of the
arts.
• It is based on a variety of orientations, including arts as therapy, art
psychotherapy, and the use of arts for traditional healing (Knill,
Barba, & Fuchs, 1995)
 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

Expressive Arts Therapy Video with Natalie Rogers Video

 Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

References
• Expressive Therapies (2005), edited by Cathy A. Malchiodi, Guilford
Publications
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd62Al_NsYU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DULKnm1SFhE
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBO42-YXvTs
• Poetry therapy: Definition, psychology, and more. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/poetry-therapy#summary