What is Art Therapy: Insights from Registered Art Therapist Stef Kam

1. What can someone expect in an art therapy session?
When engaging in art therapy as a group, it can be about shared experience, about celebrating differences, or a bit of both! Art therapy utilizes a combination of art materials, environment, and therapeutic relationship which can encourage exploration of risk, meaning-making, or catharsis. No previous art skills or even knowledge of art is required to get involved. Participants might be invited to explore a theme with emotional significance or a specific art material, but sometimes it might be guided by the participant. This is all dependent on what is needed in the moment and can vary in different contexts/settings. 

2. How does art therapy help people, and what are some of the benefits they might notice?
Some experiences, especially difficult ones, cannot be described with words. Art therapy can help us visit these difficult or uncomfortable emotions, experiences, thoughts and sensations through colour, shapes, textures, or symbols. When relating to the experience of creating an artwork, one can deepen self awareness and give attention to new perspectives or pathways. Sometimes, it can invite one to slow down, ask questions, engage in memory, and foster relationships. Creativity is an inner knowing we all have as human beings, and often underutilized as adults! 

3. Is there a surprising part of art therapy that you think people should know about?
Art therapy is not actually about the artwork, but about the process of getting there! There is also a non-verbal component that is key - a sensorial experience (ie. scrunching paper into a ball or rubbing wool between fingers) is equally important as talking about what a drawing might mean to you. Through this process, we inadvertently challenge notions of perfectionism, beauty or production of capital, which are social constructs that many of us grapple with across cultures. 

4. What inspired you to pursue art therapy, and what do you love most about it?
I have always been drawn to making art and have my own art practice, but being a witness in the art therapy process is a whole other level! I appreciate that art therapy re-positions artmaking beyond the art industrial complex. It's incredibly adaptive, and I can't even describe how magical some moments are when one identifies a shift within themselves or builds connections with others during the process.

If you are an Asian international student currently studying in Melbourne, and art therapy sounds like something you would like to try out, sign up for our Creative Community Care program here!

Sessions beginning on March 25th.