Art therapy

Art therapy is based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life-enhancing. Through creating art and talking about art and the process of art making with an art therapist, one can cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences, en­hance cognitive abilities, and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of artistic creativity. The term art therapy applies to visual arts therapy, dance therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, poetry therapy and psycho-drama.

How did art therapy begin? Art therapy did not emerge as a distinct profession until the 1930s. At the beginning of the 20th Century, psychiatrists became interested in the art work done by patients, and studied it to see if there was a link between the art and the illness of their patients. At this same time, art educators were discovering that the free and spontaneous art expression of children represented both emotional and symbolic communications. Since then, the profession .of art therapy has grown into an effective and important method of communication, assessment, and treatment with many populations.

Art therapists work with children, adolescents, and adults and provide services to individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities. They often work as part of clinical teams, in settings that include mental health, rehabilitation, medical and forensic institutions, wellness centers, schools, nursing homes, corporate structures, art studios, and inde­pendent practices. Art therapists are skilled in the application of drawing, painting, clay, and other mediums for treatment and assessment.

Art therapy is a human service profession which utilizes creative art process and responses to the created art productions as reflections of an individual's development, abilities, personality, interests, concerns, and conflicts.

Art therapy is an effective treatment for the patients with develop­mental, medical, educational, social or psychological problems. It is practiced in mental health, rehabilitation, medical, educational, and forensic institutions. Populations of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds are served by art therapists in individual, couples, family, and group therapy formats.

JOKES

An executive came back from an assertiveness course. It had been suggested that he place a card on his desk to remind himself of what he had learned. So he carefully wrote out: BE DECISIVE.

Then he stood back to look at it, considered it, and carefully added a question mark: BE DECISIVE?

A PSYCHOTIC killer had finally been trapped by the police in his hide-out. A martial arts expert, a counsellor and a hypnotherapist all volunteered to get him out.

The martial arts expert broke open the door with a well-aimed kick and then dived to the attack. There was a sound of gun-fire and his dead body was flung out.

The counsellor then walked very slowly towards the house and began to reason with the killer. Then a single shot hit him in the leg and he fell to the ground.

Despite all warnings the hypnotherapist was determined to try, and approached the house. Ten minutes later he emerged, hand in hand with the unarmed killer.

"How did you manage it?" everyone was anxious to know. "Why didn't he shoot you too?"

"Simple. I merely regressed him to childhood: he couldn't hurt me with a water-pistol!

TEST

Character tests on color sensibility are now in fashion all over the world. Here are eight colors: Please arrange them from the one you dislike most to the one least, and then choose the eighth color.

A. Green B. Brown С Blue 0. Purple E. Red F. Orange G. White H. Yellow

Which color do you choose? The eighth color you chose is the key to know your character. But be sure that you are not confused by your favourite clothes' color, just to choose the color that gives you a deep impression.

The ones who choose green

Green is the middle color of red and blue, so the ones who choose green has a character between the red and blue. They can be active when working as well as calm when thinking, owning two utterly different quality. That is,

they own elegance and sense concurrently, would like to be lonely while prudent and conservative. They won't overstep their duties when doing: things; they keep in mind clearly of their positions. As a result of their calm temper, they can deal with anything calmly; never take any sentiments into consideration when working. Thus, they will earn deep trust from others. And they will accept others' request and consignation with pleasure.

The ones who choose brown

Brown is a deep and frugal color. Those who like this color are willing to choose the clothes with not luxury but charming style. Just for this inclination, they care about the spiritual representation of thing's intrinsic value, so they can well understand loneliness of the world. Though their existence doesn't catch everybody's eyes, they have an excellent internal potential. Owning to their honesty and responsibility, they, are easily accepted by others. Yet, due to excessive diligence, they seem not to be flexible. Additionally, about the normal things which can be easily understood, they will often be so earnest that meaningless thoughts are often made.

The ones who choose blue

Blue is the color of sky and ocean, it happens to stand for an opposite status with red, it symbolizes calmness and romance. Seeing blue, your temper will be calmed down and your imagination will also be boosted. Females, who like blue, always possess goodness of female and abundant receptivity. They can be moved easily, usually has a fragile nerve, also a sensitive attitude to others. When being alone, they always can't bear the solitude. They anxiously want to get their object of love, wishing to be surrounded by tender love. They are the representative that would be loved rather than loye others. With a plain personality, they can gain others' favour easily.

The ones who choose purple

Purple, the color mixed by the two extreme colors red and blue, thus is filled with complex sentiment with mystery that can't be understand.

Those who like this color may be persons with artists' style. They eagerly want others to affirm their talent, but sometimes are too gorgeous with an excessive decoration. They are suggested to be candid before their close friends. However, due to their introversive and unfixed character, their thoughts can't be easily understood by others. In addition, sometimes they may fly to a rage, but they will never be hysterical.

The ones who choose red

Red is the color that symbolizes elaboration and action. The red color food and beverage always have the function of raising one's spirits and refreshing oneself. Those who love red have active individuality and full of energy. They have strong minds and won't give in easily. They will be depressed when they failed their plan. Even they will be of fierce action when things go on totally differently as they imagined. However, no difficulties can easily beat these full-stamina persons down.

The ones who choose orange

Orange is always not liked by people, especially not by females. But, those who like orange have a superior sociability character; they can get well along with anyone. This kind of people is suitable for jobs such as salesman, stewardess and hotel clerk. They usually greet others first and with smile on their face. They like to get along with others and don't like being lonely. When they love somebody, they dare not speak out bravely but just adore them as an ordinary friend. Besides, they have a passion for new or eccentric things. And their enthusiasm for their lives will never decrease.

The ones who choose white

White stands for purity. It's the symbol of deity and ideal. Those who love white often spread their own sentiment out clearly. They won't treat things by their brilliant appearance, but explore into the inner essence. Their existence can never be gloriously radiant, because they don't like to behave. In fact, there are many nice characteristics of them. They have an actually individuality, an earnest attitude toward working, a strong responsibility, so they are deeply trusted by others. There is always someone who comes to ask them for all kinds of things.

The ones who choose yellow

Yellow, the color in relation with metal, is the color of intellect for theoretical thinking. Seeing yellow, one's self-restriction and notice ability can be easily enhanced. Those who like yellow often have style of theoretician.