Different art materials elicit different responses, Shor explains. Anything too hard to control, or too fluid, would only add to the frustration and powerlessness the client is experiencing. Working with crayons or colored pencils allows for the creation of clear boundaries with no smudging. Building trust, resolving conflict and reaching resolution takes time. Shor, who works mainly with children between the ages of 5 and 19, says she believes art therapy works.
Art therapy is one step removed.
What the person does , not says , is important. Individual responses, which are discovered through the process, resonate strongly. I don't interpret. The clients do. The goal, she adds, is to have clients gain some mastery over the medium they use, thus enhancing their self esteem.