What it is
A mental health profession using art-making and talk within a therapeutic relationship.
Experiential support
Art Therapy
A mental health profession in which a trained art therapist uses making art, and talking about it, to support emotional expression, insight, and coping
CategoryComplementary
SafetyLow risk
Reviewed by Gyfts Editorial Team · Editorial Health Review
13 December 2025
At a glance
Art Therapy at a glance
Why explore it
People seek another route to feelings, especially when words are hard to find.
How it’s experienced
You make art with a therapist present for 50 to 90 minutes, then reflect.
Evidence context
Mixed. Large trials found no benefit in schizophrenia; other reviews report mood gains.
See the evidence snapshotSafety
Usually low risk. Choose a registered therapist; take care with trauma or crisis.
See staying safeHistory & Origin
About Art Therapy
Art therapy is a mental health profession in which a trained art therapist uses the making of art, together with conversation, to support emotional expression, understanding, and coping. You do not need artistic skill. The focus is on the process of making and on what the work brings up for you, not on producing a polished image or on the therapist interpreting your pictures for you. Materials may include paint, clay, collage, pencils, and found objects.
Art therapists work with individuals, couples, families, and groups in hospitals, schools, community clinics, rehabilitation centers, private practice, and older adult services. Art-making can offer another way to approach feelings that are hard to put into words, which is why it is often used with children, with people who have experienced trauma or loss, and in mental health and medical settings. Sessions are usually weekly and last 50 to 90 minutes.
Research is mixed. Some trials and meta-analyses report improvements in mood or wellbeing in specific groups, while large trials in people with schizophrenia found no benefit over activity groups or usual care, and Cochrane reviews in dementia concluded that evidence is insufficient. Art therapists describe it as a way that may support mental health and emotional well-being, though the evidence is limited. Art therapy is a complementary mental health approach. It is generally low risk and works best alongside other care when someone has a diagnosed condition.
The term art therapy is credited to the British artist Adrian Hill, who in 1942 described the benefit he found in drawing and painting while recovering from tuberculosis in a sanatorium, and who wrote about it in his 1945 book Art Versus Illness. Edward Adamson, an artist who had served in the war, joined Hill and extended the work to long-stay psychiatric hospitals in Britain. In the United States, Margaret Naumburg is widely regarded as the founder of the field, treating art as a form of symbolic speech within psychodynamic therapy, while Edith Kramer developed a different model, art as therapy, that emphasizes the healing role of the creative process itself.
Professional bodies followed. The British Association of Art Therapists was founded in 1964, and a group of art therapists from the United States and Canada met in Louisville, Kentucky in 1969, leading to what became the American Art Therapy Association. In the United States, art therapists typically hold a master's degree or higher, and the Art Therapy Credentials Board, founded in 1993, grants the registered art therapist credential. In the United Kingdom, the titles art therapist and art psychotherapist are legally protected and practitioners must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. Regulation varies elsewhere, and in some places anyone can use the name, so it is wise to check training and registration.
Mechanism
How it works
Art therapy works through the therapeutic relationship and the making of art, giving a different route to feelings that words alone may not reach.
- Making ArtYou engage with materials, with or without a theme.
- ExpressingImages carry feelings that words may not reach.
- ReflectingYou and the therapist notice what the work brings up.
- RelatingA trusting relationship supports exploration.
- IntegratingNew understanding feeds into daily life.
Your first visit
What to expect from a session
A typical session outline to help you feel prepared
Therapists differ, but a first art therapy session often follows this shape. You can ask about each step before you book.
Welcome and Conversation
The therapist explains how sessions work and asks what you hope for, your history, and anything that would help you feel safe.
Agreements
You discuss confidentiality, how artwork is stored, and that you can pause, change materials, or stop whenever you wish.
Exploring Materials
You look at the materials, such as paint, clay, collage, and pencils, and begin to play with them without any pressure to produce a result.
Making
You make something in response to a theme or in your own way, and the therapist stays present and supportive while you work.
Reflecting
If you wish, you talk about the process and the work, and the therapist helps you notice what it brings up without telling you what it means.
Closing and Planning
The session ends with a short settling moment, and you agree how often to meet and when to review how things are going.
The Evidence
Evidence context: Art Therapy
What research currently shows about art therapy, where evidence is stronger, and what to keep in mind when exploring it.
Overall pictureMixed to growing evidence
Promising signals, with real limitations in the research
Reviews suggest art therapy may support anxiety, depression, and quality of life in certain groups. Evidence is growing but remains limited by small sample sizes and varied study designs, so findings should be interpreted with appropriate caution.
What the research showsEvidence is mixed to growing, with the strongest signals in mental health and quality-of-life outcomes.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggest art therapy may reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms and improve quality of life, particularly in cancer care, mental health settings, and older adults. However, many studies involve small samples and inconsistent methods, making broad conclusions difficult. Benefits appear most consistent when art therapy is delivered by trained therapists within structured programmes.
Art therapy as a complementary approachArt therapy is typically used alongside, not instead of, conventional mental health care.
Within the MACH framework, art therapy sits in the Complementary category — meaning it is generally used to support, not replace, established care pathways. It may add value alongside psychological therapies or medical treatment by offering a non-verbal route to emotional expression and processing. It is not a substitute for professional assessment or evidence-based clinical care.
Where it is used clinicallyArt therapy is integrated into healthcare, mental health, and palliative care settings internationally.
Credentialed art therapists work in hospitals, oncology units, mental health services, schools, and community programmes. In these contexts, art therapy is typically part of a broader care plan rather than a standalone intervention. Regulatory standards for art therapy practitioners vary by country, so checking local credentialling bodies is advisable when seeking a qualified practitioner.
Safety and appropriate useArt therapy is generally low-risk, but some contexts require additional care.
For most people, art therapy carries low risk. However, when working with severe trauma, psychosis, or acute mental health crises, it should be delivered by appropriately credentialed clinicians and integrated into a broader care plan. Emotional safety and confidentiality are essential to the therapeutic process. If you are in acute distress, please seek qualified professional support first.
Limitations to keep in mindResearch quality varies, and inflated outcome claims are not supported by current evidence.
Many art therapy studies are small, use different outcome measures, and lack control groups, making it hard to draw firm conclusions. Evidence does not support inflated outcome claims, and art therapy should not be positioned as a primary intervention for serious mental health conditions. Interpreting positive findings with appropriate caution is important until larger, well-designed trials are available.
Finding a qualified practitionerCredentialling standards differ internationally — knowing what to look for matters.
Art therapy is a distinct profession from general art instruction or creative workshops. Qualified art therapists typically hold postgraduate clinical training and registration with a recognised professional body. In the UK, registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) applies; other countries have equivalent bodies. Checking credentials is especially important when seeking support for mental health concerns.
Safety first
Staying safe
General guidance to help you decide whether this approach is appropriate for you. This is informational only and not a substitute for medical, psychological, or professional advice.
When this may not be suitable
Some situations call for extra care or a different approach. Share any conditions, injuries, or sensitivities with your practitioner before your first session.
See specific guidance
- Art therapy is generally low risk, but working with emotions and memories can feel intense, and sessions may bring up distress. A trained therapist paces the work and helps you contain what arises. Tell the therapist about trauma, psychosis, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts so the approach can be adapted. In some cases, such as when someone is in acute crisis, a more structured form of support may be needed first. Art materials can also pose allergy or ingestion hazards, particularly for young children, so ask how materials are chosen.
- Art therapy does not replace evidence-based treatment for a diagnosed condition. Be cautious of anyone who claims to diagnose from your drawings, who promises to cure a mental illness, or who is not registered or trained where regulation exists. If you are in crisis, contact a licensed professional or emergency services. In the US you can call or text 988, and findahelpline.com lists services in other countries.
Check with a professional first
If you are pregnant, managing a health condition, recovering from injury or surgery, or taking medication, consult a qualified healthcare professional first.
Choosing a practitioner
Look for clear boundaries, transparent pricing, and practitioners who avoid fear-based claims or pressure to book frequent sessions.
Possible side effects or aftercare
Mild, short-lived effects such as tenderness, tiredness, or temporary soreness can occur. Rest, hydrate, and tell your practitioner how you respond.
For you?
Is this right for you?
A simple, human way to weigh it up. This is general guidance, not personal medical advice — a qualified practitioner can advise on your situation.
May be a good fit if…
- Art therapy may suit people who find it easier to express themselves through making than talking, including many children, teenagers, and adults who feel stuck in verbal therapy. Some use it to explore grief, stress, or change. The evidence is mixed, so it is best chosen as a complement, with a registered therapist and realistic expectations.
May not be right if…
- May not suit people who want a structured, skills-based therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy, or who feel uneasy making or sharing art. It does not replace medication or specialist care for a serious mental health condition. Take extra care in acute crisis, psychosis, severe dissociation, or easily triggered trauma, and look for a registered art therapist.
Gyfts is a discovery platform, not a medical provider. Nothing here diagnoses, treats or replaces professional care. In an emergency, contact your local emergency number.
Explore approaches
Related modalities
Other practices people often explore alongside art therapy.
In their words
People often describe it as
creativeexpressivereflectiveabsorbingsafeexploratorytactilesupported
Read next
Articles & insights
Before you book
Choosing a practitioner
FAQ
Common questions
What is art therapy?
It is a mental health profession in which a trained art therapist uses art-making and conversation to support emotional expression, understanding, and coping. No artistic skill is needed. It is offered individually or in groups in hospitals, schools, community services, and private practice, and it is a complementary approach, not a medical treatment.
Does art therapy work?
The evidence is mixed. A large UK trial found group art therapy no better than activity groups or standard care in schizophrenia, and Cochrane reviews found evidence in dementia insufficient. Some meta-analyses report lower depression in specific groups, such as people with diabetes. Benefit depends on the person, the setting, and the therapist.
Do I need to be good at art?
No. Art therapy focuses on the process of making and on what it brings up, not on the quality of the result. The therapist is not judging your work, and a good one will not claim to diagnose you from your drawings. Many people begin with little confidence and still find it helpful.
Is art therapy a regulated profession?
It is, in many places. In the United Kingdom, the titles art therapist and art psychotherapist are protected and require registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. In the United States, art therapists usually hold a master's degree and may hold a board credential, though state rules vary. Elsewhere anyone may use the name, so check training.
Is art therapy safe?
Yes, for most people it is low risk, especially with a registered therapist who paces the work. Working with feelings can be intense, and people with trauma or psychosis need a therapist experienced in those areas. It should not replace treatment for a diagnosed condition. If you are in crisis, contact a licensed professional or emergency services.
References
Evidence & Research
Educational sources that inform this overview. Inclusion is for context and does not imply endorsement.
- Group art therapy as an adjunctive treatment for people with schizophrenia: multicentre pragmatic randomised trial
- Art therapy for schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like illnesses
- Art therapy for people with dementia
- Art therapy alleviates the levels of depression and blood glucose in diabetic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Full citations are maintained by the Gyfts editorial team and reviewed periodically.
Keep exploring
Find Art Therapy practitioners you can trust
Browse practitioners, explore honest overviews, and take what you learn to a conversation — at your own pace.