Violet Hive Art Collective in Denver brings creativity into the lives of individuals, families and community through art and mindfulness.
Licensed Professional Counselor and Board- Certified Art Therapist Amy Leiter tells us about art therapy and how this type of therapy helps the community is serves.
1. What is art therapy?
Art Therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship. Art Therapy, facilitated by a professional art therapist, effectively supports personal and relational treatment goals as well as community concerns.
Art Therapy is used to improve cognitive and sensory-motor functions, foster self-esteem, and self-awareness cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and advance societal and ecological change. Art therapists are master-level clinicians who work with people of all ages across a broad spectrum of practice. Guided by ethical standards and scope of practice, their education and supervised training prepare them for culturally proficient work with diverse populations in a variety of settings.
2. How do individuals benefit from this kind of therapy?
No matter your age, experiences, artistic level or challenges art therapy is for everyone. As art therapists, we provide a space that is creative but also safe for clients to explore emotional content through a therapeutic relationship while using art materials. Through this honest, open, and nurturing relationship clients are able to work toward connecting to the things they want most in life. We work with many individuals experiencing challenges associated with anxiety, depression, self-esteem challenges with family of origin, trauma, as well as other mental health challenges. These symptoms are often due to repressed emotions which block the integration of energy in your whole being. When using art individuals have more access to their subconscious content through developing and accessing their mind-body connection.
Each person's path is unique, many of us implore a strengths-based and eclectic approach to meet each client where they are at. The foundation of my specific approach to healing is holistic and engrained in transpersonal psychology.
Through the use of art, mindfulness practices, and therapeutic interventions we purposefully, transparently, and directly participate with more of the right side of our brain which links us to creativity, flexibility, and new perspectives. Through these vehicles, the connection to self is often restored so healing on a deeper level bypassing the individual's defenses.
The other benefit of working with an art therapist is we are trained and often born to be creative and flexible. To truly meet a client where they are at we may have a greater ability to see perspectives, bring art in, try new things and ultimately be creative in our approaches. Sometimes I feel that is the most exciting part I have to be very mindful and extremely present and in contact with my clients to work through shifts, reflect what I see and hear, and challenge them when necessary during a session.
3. Where do art therapists meet with clients?
Art therapists work with individuals, couples, families, and groups in diverse settings.
Some examples include:
· Hospitals
· Schools
· Veteran’s clinics
· Private practice offices
· Psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities
· Community clinics
· Crisis centers
· Forensic institutions
· Senior communities
4. Can you share a success story?
I have helped couples see eye to eye, children connect with their parents and individuals especially but not exclusively women reconnect with themselves and heal from challenges from growing up and affecting their relationships, worthiness, and careers as well as other aspects of their lives.
5. Where to sign up if readers would like to volunteer.
Therapists and some community artists may volunteer by filling out a general contact form -
violethiveart.org/say-hello
6. Is art as healing the same as art therapy?
Art as healing is often confused with Art Therapy, and although art as healing and art therapy are very similar sometimes in their outcomes or the way the process is designed, art therapy ethically musty be done with a master level practitioner often board certified involving confidentiality and therapeutic relationship, whereas art as healing is an individual/non-therapist facilitating an art creation process. However, both use art to support a healing process and can be one on one or in a group.
We have three teams of practitioners violethiveart.org (art therapy and art as healing which involves healing benefits in a group setting), revivalproject.co (art, movement, energy work and more), and my practice art therapy, transpersonal counseling, and human design) is amyleiter.com. Our teams will be working as part of Nurture Wellcare (visitnurture.com) a new concept first of its kind in Denver involving practitioners from health, wellness, fitness, and beauty in the Highlands, as well as opening an art studio space with a full-service studio including ceramics, a larger community studio and therapy rooms in Spring 2020.
Benefits:
Emotional Release: When using art, individuals have more access to their subconscious content through developing and accessing their mind-body connection.
Promote Insight: Through this honest, open, and nurturing relationship clients are able to work toward connecting to the things they want most in life.
Stress Relief: Fighting anxiety, depression or emotional trauma can be very stressful for you both mentally and physically. Creating art can be used to relieve stress and relax your mind and body.
Foster Self-Esteem: The connection to self is often restored so healing on a deeper level bypasses the individual's defenses.