Also, art therapy is an effective treatment modality because falsification is difficult. Subject matter an artist may have difficulty confronting often appears in their artwork disguised in symbolic form. For instance, in my book I recount the story of how one of the artists used her artwork to confront childhood sexual abuse issues. When she began the art process her symbolism was disguised. As her acceptance of the past grows, the need for disguised symbolism diminished.
Art therapy can also be less frightening than talk therapy.
What I do is paint symbolism into the work. It always speaks to me in symbols. It always means something. For instance a new piece that we are showing here tonight is the result of a group idea. I belong to a group of women called Women on the Edge.