Expressive therapies can improve a person’s emotional, spiritual, cognitive, and physical well-being. The process may allow a person to develop more insight or meaning about a particular event, reveal unspoken communication, or better identify and understand both old or new feelings.
Expressive arts therapies include: art therapy, music therapy, dance/movement therapy, drama therapy and poetry therapy/creative writing. Each form of expressive art therapy is facilitated by a nationally credentialed therapist who has completed an accredited program for their designated profession.
Art Therapy
From the American Art Therapy Association (AATA):
“Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.”
Credentials: ATR (Registered), ATR-BC (Board Certified) & ATCS (Certified Supervisor)
Art Therapy Credentialing Board (ATCB)
“Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.”
Credentials: ATR (Registered), ATR-BC (Board Certified) & ATCS (Certified Supervisor)
Art Therapy Credentialing Board (ATCB)
Music Therapy
From the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA):
“Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. ”
Credentials: MT-BC
Certification Board of Music Therapists (CBMT)
“Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. ”
Credentials: MT-BC
Certification Board of Music Therapists (CBMT)
Dance/Movement Therapy
From the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA):
Dance/movement therapy is defined "as the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual.”
Credentials: R-DMT
Dance/Movement Therapy Certification Board
Dance/movement therapy is defined "as the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual.”
Credentials: R-DMT
Dance/Movement Therapy Certification Board
Drama Therapy
From the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA):
“Drama Therapy is an active, experiential approach to facilitating change. Through storytelling, projective play, purposeful improvisation, and performance, participants are invited to rehearse desired behaviors, practice being in relationship, expand and find flexibility between life roles, and perform the change they wish to be and see in the world.”
Credentials: RDT
North American Drama Therapy Association Board
“Drama Therapy is an active, experiential approach to facilitating change. Through storytelling, projective play, purposeful improvisation, and performance, participants are invited to rehearse desired behaviors, practice being in relationship, expand and find flexibility between life roles, and perform the change they wish to be and see in the world.”
Credentials: RDT
North American Drama Therapy Association Board
