What Is Creative Arts Therapy?
Creative arts therapy is a modality that uses active engagement in the arts to address mental, emotional, developmental, and behavioral disorders. Art therapy uses the relationship between the patient and therapist in the context of the artistic process as a dynamic force for change. It can also be used to manage stress and promote mental and physical health.
Creative arts therapists are trained in psychotherapy and in specific arts disciplines. These may include dance/movement therapy, drama therapy and music therapy. It also includes poetry therapy and art therapy. They have training in areas that include clinical practice and human development. Additionally, the use of creative arts provides appropriate services, and multicultural and artistic traditions.
What Services Do Licensed Creative Arts Therapists Provide?
Patients are guided to create and reflect on art and the artistic process. Arts therapists help people increase awareness of self and others. It assists in coping with the symptoms of stress, illness, trauma, and enhance cognitive abilities. They help patients improve self-esteem and develop more effective communications skills and relationships. They also help patients gain insight into patterns of behavior and create new options for coping with problems.
Creative arts therapists use assessment instruments and psychotherapy to identify, evaluate and treat dysfunctions and disorders. This occurs for the purpose of providing appropriate creative arts therapy services. Creative arts therapists help people with chronic illnesses, substance abuse, physical or developmental disabilities and learning disabilities. This, in addition to many other mental health needs.
What Credentials do License Creative Arts Therapists Hold?
These professionals train in both creative arts and psychotherapy. Each New York licensed practitioner has a master’s or higher degree in a program of creative arts therapy or its equivalent. They have passed a State-approved exam, and have completed at least 1,500 hours of clinical experience under supervision of a qualified, licensed mental health professional.