PUTTING ART THERAPY IN PERSPECTIVE
Art therapies have been practised since the 1940s in America and have played an important role in human development (Junge, 2016). It is seen as the combination healing fields of arts and psychology (Malchiodi, 2012). As art therapy practice progresses into the modern world, distinct theoretical orientations focusing on the process of art making and art psychotherapy flow along the continuum of different approaches (Gussak & Rosal, 2016). With huge influence of psychoanalytic in arts therapies, practitioners are moving forward towards more flexible and contemporary approaches of arts therapies (Azizah Abdullah, 2015).
Arts therapies definitions have been defined in many ways. But it is crucial to understand and acknowledge the correct definition in order to guide students, practitioners, and academicians to arrive at the intended purposes of arts therapies.
Aminuddin Ibrahim Lastar
Faculty of Psychology & Education, UMS
Hence, according to British Art Therapist Association, American Art Therapy Association, Canadian Art Therapy Association, and Australian National Art Therapy Association; arts therapy is a form of psychotherapy which applying psychoanalytic or psychodynamic principle with wide ranges of relevant theories that professionally practised by the trained art therapists, so the aim is to use art as therapeutic by utilising and creating various forms of visual art materials with clients to overcome their life challenges and burdensome barriers or for those who are in search of personal change. Art therapies create rooms for self- expressions, self-reflections and emotional expressions through art products and processes by using simple art materials. Hence, enable clients to heal and increase self-awareness by making chances in life, enhances cognitive abilities, and develops personal growth.
