An introduction to a career in art therapy, mental health, case studies, and current hot topics in the field.

1. ART THERAPY
Shannon Halligan, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist

2. WHAT IS ART THERAPY?
Art Therapy uses the creative process of art making to improve and
enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals
of all ages.
It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic
self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems,
develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress,
increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight.
-American Art Therapy Association

3. ART THERAPY EDUCATION
Master’s in Science
NYS License: 1,500 post graduation client hours with 150
hours of supervision by licensed Art Therapist.

4. MY BACKGROUND
Worked with Adults with Developmental Delays, and in a
hospital setting.
Built a private practice based on individual therapy, and
working as a consultant for local agencies providing
creative art therapy groups based on client goals/needs.
Public speaking, presentations at conferences, colleges,
local agencies, staff trainings.
Host and supervise Art Therapy student interns.

5. MYTHS ABOUT ART THERAPY
Art Therapy isn’t just for children or those with special needs.
Art Therapy can be utilized for a wide range of client populations and mental
health symptoms.
One does not need to have any artistic talent to “do” art therapy.
Art therapy is not about creating “a pretty picture”; often art expresses difficult
and/or negative emotions and experiences. By expressing these experiences, a
client can heal from trauma, illness and better manage symptoms.

6. BENEFITS OF ART THERAPY
Improve communication
Improve social skills
Improve gross and fine motor coordination (clay: strength, gross motor, muscular
development.)
Resolve conflicts and problems
Develop/improve sense of self
Manage behavior, reduce frequency of negative behaviors
Create new patterns of learning (Nisenson, 2008)
Increase self-esteem and awareness

7. ART THERAPY AND MENTAL
HEALTH
Art Therapy can be utilized in a variety of other disorders.
Art can externalize trauma and emotions, so that it allows a client to
express trauma in a safe way.
Imagery and artwork can tap into unconscious material that verbal
discussion/dialogue sometimes cannot.
Art Therapy can help a client with anxiety/depression by exploration of
experiences so that a client can better understand the source, triggers
and characteristics of their disorder.
Art Therapy can promote coping skills, problem-solving, independent
living skills and symptom reduction.

8. CASE STUDY: MEGAN
“NON-TRADITIONAL” ART THERAPY
CLIENTMegan is a 47 year old woman who has been diagnosed with depression and social anxiety.
Had tried verbal therapy in the past, but struggled to feel like it was helping her as much as
she’d hoped.
Experienced the death of her mother and depression increased after this loss.
Various psycho-social stressors such as financial stress, career dissatisfaction, loss of
friendships due to social anxiety symptoms.
Art Therapy interventions included:
-guided imagery and visualization
-creative journaling to clearly express feelings/symptoms and improve mood management
-Process her grief visually by creating shadow box/memory book with memories of her mother.
Progress: Megan reports a less depressed/sustained mood for long periods of time as she
previously had experienced; increased energy levels, improved ability to clearly express her
emotions to others, reduced negative emotions, improved ability to set healthy boundaries with
others.

9. CASE STUDY: MEGAN
Creative Journaling:
In her book, Creative Journaling, Art
Therapist Lucia Cappacchione
proposes that writing and drawing
with the non-dominant hand
provides more access to right brain
functions like feelings, intuition,
spirituality, and creativity.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/arts-and-
health/201310/visual-journaling-art-therapy-historical-
perspective

10. CASE STUDY: JASON
“TRADITIONAL ART THERAPY
CLIENT”
Jason is a 10 year old male, in the 5th, grade, who has been diagnosed with
Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, hearing loss, and Generalized anxiety disorder. He is
verbal, with a strong vocabulary, but struggles to express his feelings clearly or
understand his own emotions.
His symptoms include a lack of self-esteem, negative self statements and some
self-harm behaviors, anger outbursts.
Verbal therapy has not been successful in the past due to his limited ability to
communicate/express himself, as well as lack of insight.

11. TREATMENT PLAN: ART
THERAPY IN ADDITION TO
KEY ASPECTS
Jason’s treatment plan includes:
A sign skills coach: teacher aide works 1:1 with him to promote use of sign-language as an additional form of
communication.
Sensory based therapies, art therapy, Jason seeks out sensory experiences to calm and learn to self-soothe.
Sensory experiences: clay, fingerpaint, tactile materials, goop, etc.
He began art therapy treatment at age 8, when he was experiencing frequent anger outbursts at school and home,
becoming overwhelmed by demands or tasks at school, and making frequent negative statements about self, such
as, “no one likes me” or “I can’t do it”.
Consistent, supportive parenting. Parents worked closely with therapist, school and support staff to reinforce positive
behaviors, teach skills, have a reward system for desired rewards (motivation).

12. JASON: PROGRESS
Jason has attended individual art therapy bi-weekly for 2 years and has shown the following progress:
Increased planning, ability to follow multi-step directions, complete projects.
In early sessions, he would jump from one activity to another, not completing any one task, and easily become
frustrated when things did not go as he wanted.
Ability to self-regulate his emotions and give himself time to calm down.
Use communication strategies to let others know how he is feeling.
Examples: Feeling Buddies, Feeling cards/charts, sign language, “I“statements, etc.
Regulate his emotions and behavior when a project does not go as planned, he does not melt down or have outbursts
but works with therapist to come up with a way to problem solve and try a new way.
Is able to express himself and his ideas artistically, is proud of his creations and eager to share them with others.
*Play Therapy: Allowed him to express aggressive thoughts and impulses in a safe way. Play fighting, Ninjas, Guns,
etc. Parents had previously not allowed any sort of “play fighting” at home.
[Book: Why Children Need Monsters by Gerard Jones.]

13. ART THERAPY:
AREAS OF GROWTH
Art Therapy is still not widely known and there is a need for
education to the public to understand this profession.
More quantitative research is needed to further “prove” the
validity of art therapy and its benefits.
More education to the public to explain that art therapy is a
clinical based profession and can be beneficial to multiple
mental health applications.
More legislation for insurance companies to pay for
services.

14. HOT TOPICS:
Adult Coloring Books called “Art Therapy”: Coloring is calming, relaxing and a distraction at times, but its not
truly “art therapy”.
They are more of a distraction or escape such as video games or netflix, giving us something semi “mindless”
to think about, but they don’t have the same value as quality art making.
The pre-made images can actually become obsessive for some, and further promote “perfectionism” and the
idea that “coloring inside the lines” is the thing to strive for, rather than promoting a unique, creative expression
that isn’t a cookie-cutter version of something everyone else is doing.
Coloring books are about “making something pretty” and if thats your goal, then they may be useful. But art
isn’t always about a pretty picture, its sometimes raw, painful and expressive.
Alternatives to “Coloring Books”, that still allow us to tap into a child-like sense of wonder:
Anti-Coloring Books: First one was published in 1978 and they have open-ended creative and unique drawing
prompts that people of all ages can enjoy. (http://www.amazon.com/Anti-Coloring-Book-Creative-Activities-
Ages/dp/0805068422)
Do I own any of these “coloring books”? YES, but use them for what they are, an escape not a therapy.
http://www.innercanvas.com/2015/06/11/warning-adult-coloring-books-harm-good/

15. HOT TOPICS:
PAINTING WITH A “TWIST”, GLASS OF WINE
OR FOR THE BACHELORETTE:
I’m losing track of how many times in recent history that I’ve been invited to
one of these “paint parties”. “Oh its painting, thats right up your alley!” (No,
not really…and here’s why…)
Many of these classes/parties aren’t about art-making; they are a social event
much like a bridal party or birthday event. You may be celebrating with
friends and you just happen to be “doing art”. Participants will create a
cookie-cutter canvas of the same image as the other 10 people in the group.
The teacher isn’t a trained artist, they aren’t teaching specific art skills (such
as shading, figures, texture, etc) but simply following a step-by-step guide of
how to show others how to fill in spaces/colors.
One can enjoy these events for what they are—a social event—not a
therapeutic or learning art experience. It’s may be an enjoyable experience
but it does not address any therapeutic purpose.

16. RESOURCES
American Art Therapy Association:
http://arttherapy.org
www.halliganarts.com
http://creativeartstherapyrocks.tumblr.com
https://www.pinterest.com/artsychic76/creative-arts-therapy/
http://www.amazon.com/Anti-Coloring-Book-Creative-Activities-Ages/dp/0805068422
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/arts-and-health/201310/visual-journaling-art-therapy-
historical-perspective
http://www.innercanvas.com/2015/06/11/warning-adult-coloring-books-harm-good/

17. QUESTIONS?
Thank you!