Recently, I was unexpectedly accused online of unprofessional conduct for not referring clients to a licensed art therapist. This accusation, leveled by a Canadian art therapist, was surprising given the absence of a nationally recognized professional license for expressive art therapy in the United States.
I’ve been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2002 (Pennsylvania did not license counselors until then) and a Nationally Certified Counselor since 1998. Prior to that, I earned a master’s degree in the Psychology of Education. My therapeutic approach is adaptable, tailored to each client's unique needs. I avoid rigid models, recognizing that different clients require different tools. For example, traditional talk therapy might not be suitable for young children, while adults can often benefit from incorporating playfulness into their therapeutic process. While I have training in play therapy and expressive arts therapy, I don’t exclusively use these modalities. Instead, I select techniques based on the individual client's needs and goals.
As Cathy Malchiodi, a leading expert in expressive arts therapy, states, “Expressive arts help people discover just what forms of expression will be self-regulating, communicate their experiences in a reparative way, imagine restorative narratives, and ultimately support recovery.”1 My work aligns with this perspective, emphasizing the importance of client-led exploration and self-discovery. It is not strictly psychoanalytic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy (EMDR) though may be informed by all of those.
I was introduced to expressive art therapy about thirty years ago in my own treatment. I had brought drawings to one of my first therapists who was willing to go with what I had introduced into the therapeutic space. This was something I was doing on my own, and I did not know what to make of them. She did not judge or interpret my drawings. However, she did make observations about what she saw —the lines that suggested movement, the choice of colors I made. She asked questions. She paid attention to the details — where items appeared on the paper, and whether the whole sheet was used or only a fraction of it — the white space. She did not tell me what should or should not be there. I was merely expressing what I could visually because I had a difficult time expressing myself verbally.
Let me be clear. I do not practice fine art drawing. What I learned to do was to make marks on paper in a playful way. There was very little intention to make a drawing, no goal to reach, except to freely express what was in me. At the time, I was using colored highlighters on blank sheets of oversized newsprint, often poking or smacking the paper with the soft felt tips as a child might use a switch from a green sapling to slay imagined demons. I used my non-dominant hand, my left, and allowed it to do what it wanted, what it needed to do. The left hand seemed to have a mind of its own but was still a part of me. Perhaps it was expressing a part that was under-developed, that had been un-used or stunted in some way, like a seedling struggling to grow in infertile soil.
Reconnecting with my inner child through art was enlightening. I understood the vulnerability and experimentation inherent in creative expression, in human growth and development. This experience, over the past twenty-five years, has informed my therapeutic approach and served as intensive training for expressive arts therapy.
When you enter my office, you can be whoever you are.
While my approach emphasizes client-led exploration, I recognize that structured therapy is beneficial for many individuals, and I respect the diversity of therapeutic modalities. My work aligns with ethical guidelines for expressive art therapy, prioritizing client autonomy, respect, and confidentiality.
Before building resilience, individuals must establish trust in their own experiences. This foundation, often fragile due to societal pressures and past traumas, is crucial. I create a safe space for clients to explore themselves freely, validating their feelings and encouraging self-reflection in whatever ways work best for them. When clients trust their inner wisdom, they become more resilient.
By fostering trust and embracing spontaneous expression, therapists empower clients to access their inner strengths. While the therapy landscape continues to evolve, the core principle of honoring individual journeys remains steadfast. Ultimately, the therapeutic relationship is a collaborative journey of self-discovery, and expressive arts offer one invaluable pathway to healing and growth.
Malchiodi, C.A. (n.d.). The Art Therapy Sourcebook.
Resources:
What is Expressive Arts Therapy?
Books by Cathy Malchiodi
Trauma and Expressive Arts Therapy: Brain, Body, and Imagination in the Healing Process
You would make a referral! Art Therapy practice is subject to many minimum training standards and States’ laws. It is not a technique but a regulated healthcare occupation and qualified healthcare intervention.
One who has not attained the training, as with any separate and distinct healthcare occupation and profession is, by default, engaging in incompetent practice. Please refer, same as with those siloed professions. Art Therapy standards and compliant resources are at www.arttherapyclarion.com.
Credentialed Art Therapists train 8 years for our credentials. Our Code required that we advocate whenever possible.
It's good that you addressed this accusation. Having worked with several therapists, each with a different approach (including one Canadian art therapist--hope we're not talking about the same person!), I can say that the best approach for me as a client is to make a safe space to allow my inner voice and feelings to be fully expressed.
I have on my own tried writing a letter to my inner child with the non-dominant hand and found it a fascinating and therapeutic experience. I will try drawing with it in the future (when my carpel tunnel syndrome heals)!