Digital Art Therapy
Creating digital images in the context of a trusting, supportive therapeutic relationship can help you solve problems, cope with life, and express your feelings. You may want to envision a before and after scenario or you may want to see a picture of your life at this moment. Using the computer makes creating images easy. Digital art therapy is about the process of learning about yourself through the imagemaking. You need not have a great piece of art when you are finished. You never have to worry about your work being judged or evaluated. You and your work will be honored.
Will I benefit from digital arts therapy?
You will benefit from digital art therapy if you are interested in computers and want a new way to work in therapy that uses images more than words. You will use the computer to visualize problems and solutions, express feelings and gain insight. These activities are especially helpful to people dealing with:
- Anxiety: helps kids with low self esteem visualize a brighter future
- ADHD
- Adoption concerns: offers foster and adopted kids a way to express feelings about their experiences without words
- Anger: helps kids who have choices to make be able to visualize the choice and the consequences
- Autism Spectrum Disorder: helps kids on the spectrum identify and express emotions in a new and effective way
- Depression
- Divorce
- Grief and Loss: helps kids grieve in a way that is familiar
- Chronic Illness
- helps kids who are entirely devoted to computer life begin to use digital arts to connect with the world around them
Do I need to be an artist or a computer expert?
You need only average computer skills to participate in digital art therapy. If you can import clip art into a word processing document you have the skills to use graphics software. You do not need artistic talent. The goal is expression and the emphasis is on creative process rather than technique or skill.
What happens in a typical session?
I work with clients one-on-one in my office or if you are unable to come to the office, I will work with you or your teen in your home. We work on a laptop (Mac or PC). The computer is loaded with a variety of software programs for painting, photo manipulation and animation. I begin the session with some general introduction and then a topic or idea for the day that might inspire the artmaking. There will be time for making art and I am available to help as needed. Then, we will discuss the art at the end of the session.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of art will I make?
You can create a variety of art with or without the use of traditional media like markers or pencils. You may want to start by sketching and then scanning the drawing into the computer to finish the image. Or, you may want to work only with digital images by making a digital collage with images chosen from my collection. Other things you might like to try are photography, illustration, animation, interactive media, music video, slide shows, logos and digital paintings.