Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that combines the creative process of art making with the theories of psychology.
Creating art can in and of itself be a form of self-expression and healing, but it can also be used as a tool to facilitate verbal communication and to help achieve therapeutic goals. Art therapy is a relatively non-intrusive form of therapy that can help people of all ages express difficult thoughts and feelings.
During art therapy, the focus is on the process and on the metaphors and symbols within the finished product. The goal is not to create an aesthetic piece of art; therefore, prior experience or skill in art is not required in order to successfully engage in art therapy.
CATA stands for the Canadian Art Therapy Association, a professional association for art therapy in Canada.
