What is art therapy?
 Art therapy is a unique form of therapy that uses the creative process to improve a person's mental, emotional and physical well-being. While the traditional talk therapy /psychotherapy/ involves verbal communication between therapist and client, art therapy uses art as a means of expression. Art therapy reaches the client in a soft, gentle and subtle way while at the same time brings out from the depths of the soul and the unconscious the really important and valuable material to work with in the therapy session. During an art therapy session, the client comes to many insights and discovers about themselves many unconscious feelings and emotions that are revealed with the help of art.

Art therapy aims to promote self-awareness, emotional healing, personal growth and the exploration of inner experiences through the creative process. By creating images, pictures, stories or objects, clients begin to better understand their own thoughts, feelings, emotions and patterns, helping them to learn managing these feelings and patterns and find solutions to their problems. Art therapy focuses on the process of creating art as the very act of creation is therapeutic and relaxing.

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What methods and techniques does art therapy use?
Various means of expression are used in art therapy - drawing, writing, dancing, singing, free movement of the body, active imagination, role-playing and others. Art therapy has a number of branches that explore a variety of expressive methods - Visual Arts, Music Therapy, Play Therapy, Sand Therapy, Story Therapy, Photo Therapy, Expressive Art Therapy. The therapist and the client then explore together the symbolism and meaning behind the client's creation and the meaning that this process and their work bring to themselves.

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Advantages of art therapy:
Art therapy, compared to other therapeutic modalities, has advantages that outline its comprehensiveness and wide selection of techniques for expressing and alleviating the client's mental anguish. Among these benefits are:
• Awareness through all the senses - thanks to art therapy, the client reaches deeper and more meaningful awareness that can experience through all their senses
• Body awareness - The client's body actively participates in the therapeutic process. The client can use their body as a tool to express their thoughts, feelings, emotions, experiences.
• The left and right hemispheres of the brain are simultaneously activated and the building of connections between them is strengthened, which helps to strengthen concentration, logical and abstract thinking, speed of thinking.
• Imagination and projective thinking are developed, creativity and spontaneity are stimulated
• Resistances to the therapeutic process are reduced, helping clients to achieve significant results in their therapy more quickly
• The client has physical evidence (picture, image, verse, tale, melody, dance, sculptor) of their process, which enhances the effect of the therapy session and brings them meaning and comfort in the days and weeks following the session.
• The method is flexible and applicable even under limited and difficult conditions.
 

What problems can art therapy help with?
Art therapy is an effective psychotherapy for a wide range of problems that a person may face. It is suitable for working with people with trauma, with problems in family relationships, problems in partner relationships, problems in relationships with children. Art therapy is also very useful when working with various anxiety disorders, depressive states, experiencing burnout, excessive stress, a major life change. A particularly suitable method for dealing with crises and experiences related to separation, divorce, widowhood, grief, serious illnesses, as well as during transitions /retirement, change of job, menopause, moving to another city or country, change of school/ and others.

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What are the benefits of art therapy?
Art has the incredible power to speak the language of the soul, and in the field of therapy it becomes a canvas for healing and self-discovery. Here are the benefits of art therapy:
• Expression beyond words - Art therapy provides a unique way to express feelings and emotions beyond our defined frameworks. For those who find it challenging to express their emotions verbally, the artistic scene becomes a space where they can share openly and freely and often surprise even themselves.
• Reduce stress and increase relaxation – Artistic activities reduce stress and increase relaxation and calmness. Whether it's drawing, dancing or singing, creative pursuits become a practice to calm the mind and body and overcome anxiety.
• Release of emotions and their channeling - Art therapy provides a safe space to release negative emotions and supports the smooth process of dealing with them and channeling them into productive energy.
• Freedom of expression – Art therapy offers additional freedom in the way and methods of expressing your thoughts, feelings, ideas and experiences. Everything from the symbols, colors and themes used in the created art directs the therapist to the experiences and emotions of the client and gives a broader and richer perspective for dealing with the client's difficulties.
• Art therapy can also be perceived as a creative session in which the client feels safe and shares his feelings and emotions, without the anxiety and discomfort that he could experience in a standard session with a psychologist.

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Who is art therapy suitable for?
Art therapy is particularly suitable for people who experience difficulties with verbal expression, for people who have experienced severe traumas that are very difficult for them to talk about. Art therapy is also widely used when working with children, as it is very close to their way of perceiving the world and ability to think figuratively.
Art therapy is suitable for anyone who wants to get to know themselves better and solve their problems using the power of art. Art has been the natural way to communicate since the dawn of time. Even before the development of writing, primitive societies used prints, shapes, images and hieroglyphs to communicate with each other. These forms of expression are part of our biological heritage. Much of our thinking is visual, we think through images, we dream images, even our speech is influenced by images. Art is the language of our soul and through it, our soul speaks using all our senses. Let art therapy guide you in this process of hearing and getting to know your own soul.