Fryszberg is one of many health care professionals who has discovered that art can act as a mirror for our changing selves, and thus act as an agent in healing. Bringing her knowledge as both an artist and an occupational therapist, Fryszberg hopes to use the medium to bring self-confidence and new skills to the participants. Practitioners are grounded in diverse psychological theories that do not emphasize the sale of the work created. Still, practitioners of both approaches recognize the visual medium as a tool for healing, self-discovery and building confidence. Art therapy involves distinct assessments, interventions and evaluations and is used in conjunction with other forms of therapy, says Susan Beniston, who has been the art therapist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's Queen St. site since 1985.
Interventions help clients to explore conflicts in their lives.
For some, the therapy may be about helping them to express their feelings, while for others it may be about helping them to contain overwhelming feelings and develop coping strategies. As an example, Beniston describes a female client who has used alcohol as a means of numbing her feelings and maintaining control in her life. In the art process she is gradually encouraged to express her emotions and maintain control in more healing ways. The woman has moved from drawing very tightly with pencil crayons to painting with a big brush and exploring with colour. Art therapy also provides a visual record of the process, which is integral to each person's overall treatment.