Art therapy : a review of methodology

Abstract

Officially founded as an independent science in the United States in the late sixties, Art therapy, although still borrows the theoretical fundament of psychoanalysis, has its own distinctive characteristics. This paper attempts to review the methodology of art therapy. When not aiming at the overview of art therapy history, it presents art therapy’s most pivotal features, including its difference from art education, non-verbal communication, metaphoric meaning and relationship-oriented character. The levels of Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) as developmental steps and the use of art therapy media are also presented in this paper.