90 • Introduction to Art Therapy
The Creative Process Is a Learning Experience
Many have pointed out parallels between psychotherapy and the creative process, another
likely reason for the effectiveness of art therapy. Both involve the breaking down of old
structures in order to give birth to new ones, as well as the confrontation of confusion and
chaos within a containing framework. The creative process also offers an opportunity to
experiment with new ways of seeing or being. As Edith Kramer (1958) eloquently said:
Art is a method of widening the range of human experiences by creating equiva-
lents for such experiences. It is an area where experiences can be chosen, varied, and
repeated at will.Art Is a Natural “High” That Also Heals
We have barely scratched the surface of what is possible through art for our spiritual health,
especially since society is going through an extremely painful period, hopefully one of
transition. In a world where happiness is often sought through mind-altering drugs and
where pent-up rage erupts in senseless violence, making art is a means of safely sublimating
Figure 4.9 Art therapy workshop for teachers—Judy Rubin.