Art Therapy: Definition of the Profession (AATA, 2002) "Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development. Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art."

The process of art making engages participants in the many positive aspects of the creative process. The creative process itself changes our brain state, promoting a greater sense of well being and inspiration for living. Any medium can be used to facilitate art making whether it is drawing, painting, clay, sculpture, collage, mixed media or crafts. Art making reveals our deeper truths or desires; often censored by the analytical mind that judges and inhibits spontaneous expression. Art therapy can also guide participants to gain insight into themselves and problem solve in novel ways.

Participating in creative process through art making has nothing to do with "talent" although "non-artists" are often amazed at what they are capable of producing once the self critic is subdued. Art therapy is a wonderful process of self-discovery and healing of the body, mind and spirit.

Many times, art making allows us to express feelings that are otherwise painful or difficult to verbalize. Here is a personal example of grief over the loss of a pet through painting.

Collage is a powerful way to visually express our hopes, dreams and desires.

Expressive Arts Therapies

Expressive arts therapies include art making in all its forms; the visual arts, movement, drama, music, and writing (e.g., journaling, poetry, storymaking). When blending together multiple creative disciplines it is possible to engage the entire sensory system - i.e., touch, audio, visual, kinetic, and olfactory into a whole experience. The expressive arts also promote the benefits of creative process in a broader sense as applied to these expressive modalities.

Mask making is an excellent example of an expressive arts therapy process involving the creation of a personal mask, story telling, the expression of the mask through drama, movement and music. Such experiences can be extremely powerful, integrative, and healing.

Prior to my involvement in mental health, I worked as a professional studio and theater artist. In addition, I created, produced and performed in numerous multi-media performance art pieces in California and New Mexico. For many years I led intensive mask making workshops that were highly popular in the southwest. I used my art and expressive arts therapy skills to facilitate out door experiential workshops. Most recently I was artistic director for the "Let Rachel Speak" production performed in Cleveland, Ohio.

As an art therapist, I work with people of all ages and with individuals, couples, families, and groups. I am available for workshops that combine my years of experience in the arts, my knowledge of brain states, creativity and healing.