"When I drew, I usually did so with earphones on and taped music playing in order to, not only keep the hospital world out, but to keep me close to and in touch with all my feelings. It became gradually easier to express the emotions and subsequently more simple to define them."
Her anger and hurt were significant and she explored them further by drawing and sometimes by manipulation of colors.
Now, she is able to walk, but still has limited use of her right arm and hand.
"When I look back on the experience in the rehab hospital, where the concentration was on physical recovery and rehabilitation, I know I couldn't have made it nearly as well without my art and music."
"In addition, the art and music and eventually the writing were necessarily helpful in creating the understanding which has served me to lead a production and relatively well adjusted life."
Therefore, instead of providing art therapy with children and adult workshops, she now teaches art classes in a senior community and conducts art therapy sessions in convalescent and rest homes (Ruth Feb 1).
The overall field of the art therapy is quickly growing and dividing into diffferent professional areas (Fleshman and Fryrear 14). However, the biggest problem facing the field of art therapy is that there are not enough art therapists and not enough institutions to train them, especially in the Southwest of the United States. The heaviest concentration of art therapists and training centers, not surprisingly, can be found on the East and West coasts along with the northern Midwest (Miller, Dallas Morning News April 4, 1999).
Although many clinics and hospitals use persons not formally trained in the art therapies, there is a growing interest in professional approaches that demand high quality. As more young people continue to enter the different areas of the art therapies, professional standards are sure to be raised (Fleshman and Fryrear 15).
In short, Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which people can use multi-media art materials to express difficult or confusing feelings in a safe and non-threatening manner. As it becomes recognized by many professionals and clients, the future of the field of art therapy is bright.
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