Art Therapy

Gyfts is in early access. Browse modalities, conditions, and practitioner profiles freely. Booking flow opens at full launch.Join the waitlist

Art Therapy — Evidence & Practitioners | Gyfts

Background

Origin & History

Art therapy emerged in the mid-20th century, integrating psychotherapy with creative processes. It is now practiced by trained clinicians and used across healthcare, education, and community settings.

The practice

How It Works

Art therapy involves a trained therapist facilitating the creative process—drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, or other visual media—to help you externalise and explore thoughts and emotions that may be difficult to articulate verbally. The therapist observes and discusses your artwork and creative choices, helping you identify patterns, process experiences, and develop insight into your emotional life. The focus is on the therapeutic value of both making and reflecting upon art, rather than aesthetic skill or artistic outcome.

What to Expect in a Session

A session typically includes a brief check-in, guided or client-led art-making (e.g., drawing, painting, collage), and reflective discussion linking the artwork to emotions, experiences, and coping strategies.

Evidence Assessment

Evidence is mixed to growing, varying by population and outcome. Reviews suggest potential benefits for anxiety, depression, and quality of life in certain groups, but study heterogeneity and small samples remain common limitations.

Evidence varies by condition and individual response. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

References

1.Quinn, E. A., et al. (2025). Group arts interventions for depression and anxiety among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Translational Psychiatry, 15, 368. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-024-00368-1
2.Zhang, B., et al. (2025). The effect of art therapy interventions to alleviate depressive symptoms in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychology, 13, 210. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-01833-7
3.Blomdahl, C., et al. (2024). Art therapy for adolescents with depression: A randomized controlled trial. Art Therapy, 41(2), 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2024.2309422

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be good at art?

No. Art therapy focuses on process and expression rather than artistic skill or aesthetics.

How is art therapy different from an art class?

Art therapy is delivered by trained mental health professionals and includes therapeutic goals, clinical boundaries, and reflective processing.

What is art therapy and how does it work therapeutically?

Art therapy is a professionally regulated psychotherapeutic practice (HCPC-registered in the UK) that uses art-making as the primary vehicle for communication, exploration, and healing. The key distinction from art classes is that the creative process — not the product — is the therapeutic medium. Clients do not need artistic skill. The therapist uses art-making to facilitate expression of experiences, emotions, and inner states that may be difficult to verbalise, and the therapeutic relationship to process what emerges. Theoretically, art therapy draws on psychodynamic, humanistic, developmental, and cognitive-behavioural frameworks.

What conditions is art therapy evidenced for?

Art therapy has evidence across a wide range of presentations. The strongest evidence exists for mental health conditions: depression, anxiety, PTSD, and schizophrenia (for reducing distress and improving quality of life). Strong evidence exists for dementia — art therapy consistently shows improvements in wellbeing, social engagement, and emotional expression in dementia care settings. Moderate evidence supports art therapy for cancer patients (reducing anxiety, depression, and fatigue), children with learning difficulties, and people with chronic pain. It is particularly valuable for presentations where verbal expression is limited or insufficient.

Is art therapy the same as arts and crafts in a therapeutic setting?

No — this distinction matters. Arts and crafts in a therapeutic or occupational context can be valuable for engagement, distraction, and social connection, but it is not the same as clinical art therapy. Art therapy is conducted by a qualified, registered art therapist who uses specific therapeutic frameworks, manages the therapeutic relationship, and works with the psychological material that emerges through the creative process. If you are seeking art therapy for mental health, trauma, or clinical needs, ensure your practitioner is HCPC-registered (UK) or holds equivalent professional credentials.

Ask Vidi about Art Therapy

Origin & History

How It Works

What to Expect in a Session

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is This For?

Best for

Not ideal for

Commonly used for

Ancestral Shame

Cancer Support

Grief & Loss

PTSD & Trauma

Depression & Low Mood

Symptoms practitioners commonly work with