Exploring What Art Therapy Actually Is Through Art
The phrase "art therapy" gets used loosely online — for coloring books, calming apps, even casual drawing time. But real art therapy is a specific, credentialed profession, and it's worth understanding what actually sets it apart.
How Drawing Relates to Art Therapy
Art therapy is a mental health profession in which a licensed, master's-level trained art therapist uses the art-making process, alongside talk-based methods, to help people work through specific psychological or emotional concerns. Sessions follow an individualized treatment plan, take place within an ongoing therapeutic relationship, and are guided toward defined goals — not simply "make something and feel better." Everyday drawing shares the raw material — paper, color, mark-making — but not the clinical structure or training behind it.
An Important Distinction
Everyday creative drawing at home is a healthy, accessible habit, but it is not art therapy, and it shouldn't be marketed or understood as equivalent. If you're seeking the actual therapeutic benefits art therapy is designed to offer, that requires working with a credentialed professional, not just picking up a coloring book.
A Simple Activity to Try
If you're curious what art therapy actually looks like, research a licensed art therapist's credentials (such as ATR or ATR-BC in the US) rather than assuming any "art and wellness" product qualifies.
Tips for Understanding Art Therapy Correctly
- Look for licensing and credentials when evaluating whether something is genuine art therapy.
- Treat "art therapy" language in casual products with healthy skepticism.
- Recognize that everyday drawing and art therapy can coexist without being the same thing.
- Reach out to a licensed provider if you think art therapy specifically could help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone call themselves an art therapist?
No — in most places, art therapy is a regulated profession requiring specific graduate training and licensure or certification.
Is a coloring book "art therapy" if it's marketed that way?
Not in the clinical sense. Marketing language often borrows the term loosely; genuine art therapy requires a trained professional.
Can art therapy help with something coloring alone can't?
Yes — it's designed to address specific psychological concerns through a guided clinical process, which goes well beyond a relaxing hobby.
Conclusion
Understanding what art therapy actually is helps set realistic expectations for everyday creative activities. For more, see the difference between art therapy and coloring, or enjoy our coloring pages for what they genuinely offer.