About art therapy

An introduction

Art therapy has been around for thousands of years. But in modern times, the therapeutic use of art has been systematized and there is now an arsenal of methodologies and professional approaches that therapists can draw inspiration from. Here we provide an introduction to art therapy as a field.

Art, Art Therapy and Storytelling

Art therapy has several directions, including drawing therapy, music therapy, dance therapy, storytelling and sand therapy, among others. Our starting point is Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy, Storytelling and the general importance of art for our well-being. At Artmentum, we focus on three main topics:

1. How can we use it for our overall wellbeing?
2. How can it be used in treatment and recovery?
3. How can it be used specifically by therapists for victims of violence?

In the following, we will go through a number of different types of art therapy with references to places you can learn more.

Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy (EXA)

At EXA, we work with five art forms: music, dance, visual art, acting and storytelling. We move through these art forms to expand our understanding of them, using examples like dancing a painting we’ve painted ourselves to understand how it can be expressed bodily. EXA is based on anthropology, psychology, philosophy and art making. You can find more information about Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy and see where it is offered as a Master’s program at The European Graduate School in Switzerland here.

Storytelling

Storytelling is an important element of art therapy. Every culture has its own stories or narratives. Storytelling is the vivid description of ideas, beliefs, personal experiences and life experiences through narratives. Creative writing is an in-depth process that allows thoughts and feelings to unfold around what has been experienced. Some elements of stories and storytelling include plot, characters and narrative point of view. The term “storytelling” can specifically refer to oral storytelling over millennia, but it can also refer to techniques used to unfold or reveal the narrative of an experience or a person’s life story.

Education and training

If you are interested in studying art therapy, we refer you to the Danish Art Therapy Association for information about different opportunities in Denmark. You can find more information on their website.

Art therapy partners

Relevant art therapy collaborators include:

The National Gallery of Denmark, which offers the use of rooms and paintings. You can find more information on their website.
There is also The European Graduate School, which offers a Master’s program in Expressive Arts Therapy. You can find more information here.
Finally, there’s the True Storytelling Institute, which focuses on storytelling. You can find more information here.