Mind & support

Art therapy

ศิลปะบำบัด

A form of psychotherapy in which making art, drawing, painting, clay, is used alongside talking, with a trained art therapist.

IntensityGentle

Origin

United Kingdom and United States

History

1940s: the term "art therapy" is usually credited to Adrian Hill in 1942

Licence in Thailand

Not required

Where it comes from

Art therapy took shape in the 1940s on both sides of the Atlantic. In England, the artist Adrian Hill began drawing while recovering from tuberculosis in a sanatorium and found it helped him; he then taught other patients, many of them injured soldiers. He is generally credited with coining the term "art therapy" in 1942 and described his ideas in the book Art Versus Illness (1945).

In the United States, at around the same time, the educator Margaret Naumburg linked art-making to psychoanalysis, while the artist Edith Kramer emphasised the healing value of the creative process itself.

The field then organised as a profession: the British Association of Art Therapists was founded in 1964 and the American Art Therapy Association in 1969. In the UK today, "art therapist" and "art psychotherapist" are protected titles reserved for practitioners registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

The principle

Art therapy uses art as the main way of expressing yourself, alongside conversation with the therapist. Images and objects can help put into form feelings or experiences that are hard to say in words.

The focus is the process and what it means to you, not the beauty of the result. You do not need any artistic skill: the therapist is not there to judge your work aesthetically but to help you explore it within a safe, confidential relationship.

What people come for

Express feelings that are hard to put into words
Manage stress and find a calmer moment for yourself
Gain insight into thoughts, emotions and relationships
Strengthen self-esteem and confidence
Process a difficult life event with professional support

How it works on the body

Art therapy combines hands-on making with reflection and talking, engaging both the body and the mind.

A session, step by step

01
Assessment
The therapist asks about your situation and needs, and suggests individual or group sessions accordingly.
02
Agreement
You agree on goals, frequency, fees and confidentiality.
03
Making art
You choose or are offered materials and create freely, sometimes around a theme; there is no right or wrong way.
04
Talking about it
If you wish, you look at the work together and talk about what came up while making it.
05
Closing
The session ends calmly; you can ask the therapist how your artwork will be kept or shared, since it is part of a confidential process.

Precautions

Art therapy is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care, and research on its effectiveness is still limited and mixed depending on the condition.
Making art can bring up strong emotions. Work with a trained art therapist rather than a general art class if you are dealing with trauma or distress.
In Thailand there is no specific licence for art therapists: ask about the practitioner's degree (ideally a master's in art or expressive arts therapy) and supervision.
If you have thoughts of harming yourself, contact the free 24-hour mental health hotline 1323, or emergency services on 1669.

Complementary practice: does not replace medical advice.

In Thailand

Art therapy is a young profession in Thailand. Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok offers a two-year, English-taught Master of Arts in Expressive Arts Therapy through its Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, presented as the first such master's programme in the country; it combines visual arts, drama, storytelling and movement with supervised field training. There is no separate Thai licence for art therapists: creative arts therapists may practise under a clinical psychology licence, counselling credentials, or with less formal regulation. It is therefore worth checking each practitioner's training. Some therapists also hold foreign credentials, such as registration in the UK or the US.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be good at drawing?

No. Professional art therapy bodies are clear that no art experience is needed. What matters is the process and what it means to you, not the artistic quality.

Is art therapy the same as an art workshop?

No. A workshop teaches techniques. Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy delivered by a trained therapist within a confidential relationship, with personal goals.

Who is it for?

People of all ages, including children and older adults, and people living with illness, disability or difficult life experiences. It can be individual or in a group.

Can it replace seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist?

It should not replace medical or psychological care when you need it. Some people use art therapy alongside other treatment; talk to your doctor or psychologist.

Also in Mind & support

On pranathai

Find a Art therapy practitioner

No practitioner of this discipline on pranathai yet. Are you a practitioner here? Create your free page