More About Us
Extras!
We offer workshops, trainings, and classes. Our facility has an art room for private parties of up to 10 people. Follow us on Instagram @CAT_Therapy2023 and check out our calendar page for upcoming events.
More on Art Therapy
- American Art Therapy Association https://arttherapy.org/
- Art Therapy Credentials Board https://www.atcb.org/
- New Hampshire and Art Therapy https://arttherapy.org/news-nh-gov-sununu-signs-title-protection-bill/
- New England Art Therapy Association https://www.neata.us/about
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy is a human service profession in which clients, facilitated by an art therapist, use the creative process and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. Art Therapy practice is grounded in the knowledge of human development, psychological theories, and counseling techniques. To become an Art Therapist one must attend an art therapy Master’s programs, and graduates must complete a significant number of post-graduate supervised clinical hours as an intern in order to become fully credentialed. For a more in depth description of what Art Therapy is see the ATCB definition by clicking here: https://www.atcb.org/Public/WhatIsArtTherapy
Who Can Provide Art Therapy?
Educational and professional standards for the profession are established by the Art Therapy Credentials Board Inc., (ATCB), the American Art Therapy Association, Inc. (AATA), and individual state Professional Licensing Boards. Practitioners must have a minimum of a Master’s degree in Art Therapy, be a member of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), and also be Registered, with a good-standing, with the Art Therapy credential through the Art Therapy Credentials Board Inc., (ATCB). Each state has unique requirements to practice in the professional field, and these should be considered when choosing a graduate school in order to fully understand the state specific requirements to practice. There are additional credentials an ATR can achieve such as; becoming Board Certified (ATR-BC) or offering supervision by completing requirements to become an Art Therapy Certified Supervisor (ATCS) . As a client it is important to know the qualifications of anyone offering Art Therapy.
In New Hampshire: To practice as an Art Therapist, an individual must be Registered with AATA and maintain the ATR credential through the ATCB. On July 5th 2018, Governor Chris Sununu signed the Bill SB 535 offering title and practice protection for the Art Therapy Profession. To find a credentialed Art Therapist near you or in your state use this link below: https://www.atcb.org/Home/FindACredentialedArtTherapist
Who Benefits from Art Therapy?
Art Therapists promote a creative experience, and integrate mental health and human services to support children, adolescents, adults, families and communities with applied psychological theories. This approach allows verbal and nonverbal communication through the creative work. Sessions facilitated by a professional Art Therapist can address different mental health needs, and also include benefits for improving self-esteem, managing chronic illness, and increasing self- awareness. Below are some examples of how Art Therapy can be useful.
Anxiety- The act of creating with a variety of art forms and materials can support the reduction of anxiety. Additional discussion in sessions can include types of creative activities specific to individual abilities, and lifestyle. Homework can include mapping the anxiety with creative approaches.
Stress- Different art approaches may include Kinesthetic movements with clay, cognitive considerations through collage work, or emotional awareness in body mapping and portraiture. With the help of an art therapist, one can gain more insight about their stress, and help define boundaries for themselves to manage the stress and feel more comfortable.
Depression- Integrating mindfulness skills into specific guided art directives, the Art Therapist can also incorporate thought and behavior models that will assist an individual in finding their own new perspectives and thinking styles to alleviate depressive symptoms.
Read More about how Art Therapy can be therapeutic for a variety of Mental Health diagnoses.
Depression- A Blog on using art therapy to address depression symptoms.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)- Online information about the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) in Bethesda Maryland assisting Veterans of the US Military.