art therapy

noun

1. a type of psychotherapy that encourages the expression of emotions through artistic activities such as painting, drawing, or sculpture; psychotherapy based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life-enhancing.

Word History and Origins

Origin of art therapy¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

At an art therapy session, many of the paintings show happy families, houses and pets.

From BBC

In a joint report with the Centre for Mental Health, the authors call for schools and mental health teams to move away from a reliance on talking-based therapies, adding that solutions like art therapy could sometimes be more appropriate.

From BBC

On a recent Saturday afternoon, at an art therapy event at Pasadena City Church, 11-year-old Eleanor Norman sat at a table and dipped her brush into the watercolors in front of her to paint a picture: a bright red phoenix flying over a pink sunset.

From Los Angeles Times

Both programs also offered complementary therapies such as psychoeducation, anger management, medication management and art therapy, among others.

From Science Daily

He is popular for art therapy, often joins the staff and guests at dinner, and one guest even composed a song for him.

From BBC