Art Therapy

About Art Therapy

Art therapy ‘uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages’. It uses the creative process involved in artistic self-expression to help people ‘resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behaviour, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight’. Art therapy ‘integrates the fields of human development, visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art forms), and the creative process with models of counselling and psychotherapy’.

It can be used to assess and treat mental, emotional, physical, cognitive, neurological and psychosocial problems. It can be used with people of all ages and can be found in a number of settings including hospitals, public and community agencies, wellness centres, educational institutions, businesses as well as private practices.

 About The Art Therapist

Yen Chua is a certified Art Therapist and one of the founding members of the Art Therapists’ Association of Singapore (ATAS). She graduated with a Master of Arts (Art Therapy) in 2007 from the LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. She has worked in a variety of settings with individuals and groups of different age with social-emotional issues, addiction, rehabilitation, behavioural problems, trauma and other mental health issues.

Qualifications

Art therapists are Master’s Level professional degree holder in Art Therapy or a related field. Educational requirements include: theories of art therapy, counselling, and psychotherapy; ethics and standards of practice; assessment and evaluation; individual, group, and family techniques; human and creative development; multicultural issues; research methods; and practicum experiences in clinical, community, and/or other settings.

Art therapists also need to be skilled in the application of a variety of art modalities (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other media) for assessment and treatment.
(Source: American Art Therapy Association)