Art Therapy is a form of treatment using simple art materials. Spontaneous art expression in a non-judgmental atmosphere allows the person to freely articulate repressed thoughts and feelings without the threat of repercussion. Once previously undisclosed feelings have been externalized, client and art therapist are able to explore issues that have surfaced. Art therapy is useful as a primary or secondary tool for healing. It can be used with children, adolescents and adults, and deal with a variety of needs. Because of the organic nature of the materials, as well as the imaginative process, art therapy encourages creativity.

Pioneers

Introduced to this country in the forties and fifties by Dr. Martin A. Fisher, Selwyn and Irene Dewdney and Marie Revai, art therapy has now entered its second generation in Canada. By now art therapy has grown into a full-fledged profession with training institutes, individual practioners, institutional connections and professional associations across the country. Those of us of the first generation of Art Therapists are now collaborating with our students and former students in our common endeavour in expanding the effectiveness and influence of the profession. The profession has come of age. And a sure marker of that fact is that, by now, thirty some years after it began here, it possesses a past, a history. [read more...]

Art Therapy Training

In the early days, the 60’s and 70’s and even the 80’s the art therapy training programs were still ‘finding themselves’, and there was much debate both in the United States and in Canada as to what was required to train an art therapist. The American Art Therapy Association established guidelines for training, and the Canadian training programs used these criteria. We took from the American experience and expertise what was relevant to us and were in the fortunate position to be able to leave alone what didn’t apply. That is still happening. You will find that all the training programs in North America observe and interpret these AATA guidelines, each with its own identity.
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Art Therapy Associations

After training, the development of associations of art therapists became the next step. The art therapists who were by now receiving training recognized the need to take responsibility as professionals. Rather than work in isolation, without governance and professional scrutiny, as well as lack of recognition, we began to come together as groups. As a result we now have the Canadian Art therapy Association, the British Columbia Art Therapy association, the Quebec Art Therapy Association, and the Ontario Art Therapy Association. [read more...]