Art therapy:
Is the therapeutic practice of art making through the assistance of mental health professionals trained to understand the interactions between processes of art
making, creativity and the psychological wellbeing. A therapeutic environment is created by within which the clients are encouraged to express their feelings
through the exploration of art materials such as drawing, painting, collage and sculpture. The artwork itself then becomes the third dimension which can then be
explored within the therapeutic relationship.
Art therapy has been a profession in the USA and UK since the 1940s and it is a growing profession all over the world. It has been increasingly used in human
service and health care institutions all over the world. The therapeutic effect of art making has been demonstrated and increasingly psychologists, therapist and
social workers ally themselves with art therapists in order to increase the effectiveness of their treatment programs by introducing more experiential and non-
verbal modalities
The Art therapist
For the last 23 years, Hoda Mazloomian has worked as an artist, art teacher and an art therapist. In 1986 he gained a BA in Creative and Performing Arts in
Newcastle-Upon Tyne, in 1990 achieved a Teaching Certificate (PGCE) in Art and Design in Birmingham, England and in 1999 graduated from the Masters of
Art Therapy program at the Art Institute of Chicago, USA. For the next 9 years he initiated and developed several art therapy programs in the USA and worked
with a diverse population including children and adolescents with emotional challenges and youth and adults with Autism, Asperger’s syndrome and other
developmental disabilities and trauma. As a licensed, registered and Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC) and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
(LCPC), he supervised several art therapy interns and developed a growing private practice working as an art therapy consultant for a number of institutions.
Art therapy deals with six major areas of concern in treating clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder
1. Imagination/abstract thinking
Art therapy provides a visual, concrete format in which to help a person with Autism to develop abstract thinking skills, express creativity, and increase
flexibility.
2. Sensory regulation and integration
Art therapy can provide safe and creative space in which, enjoyable sensory integration and exploration activities are experienced.
The process of Art therapy includes making artworks, with in the supportive therapeutic relationship. The artworks then become a record of the client’s
therapeutic development.
3. Emotions/Self-expression
Living with Autism can be very stressful experience. Art therapy process allows people with Autism to express their emotions more constructively and safely
through the process of art making.
4. Developmental Growth
Art therapy process encourages in the developmental growth of persons with Autism. Drawing and painting processes helps the client practice fine motor,
social and relational skills.
5. Recreation/Leisure skills
Recreational art making through the art therapy processes encourages decision making, patience, and pride in the work produced by the persons with Autism.
The, client is able, with the support of the art therapist, become self motivated in making art a part of their structured recreational activities.
6. Visual-spatial deficits
Drawing and painting helps both reveal and address visual-spatial needs of clients with Autism also assisting in the improvement of hand-eye coordination.