Resolve Internal Conflict Through Creativity
For anyone wanting to support, maintain, and improve psychosocial, physical, cognitive, and spiritual health. It uses the application of the visual art and creative process.
It is based on the belief that the creative process helps people resolve conflicts and problems and achieve insight. Emphasis is on the development and expression of images that come from the inside, and not from what is seen from the outside. No experience, artistic training, or skills are required.
Art Therapy at Loving Life
Discovering Art Therapy
When an artist gets in touch with creativity through visual expression, she becomes aware of the powerful healing process that the arts can provide. Achieving personal awareness and discovering revealing truths can provide better functioning and a desire for pursuing freedom of expression that will enhance one’s self esteem and confidence.
Art therapy, a profession based on the belief that making art is healing and life enhancing, is a relatively young discipline that is becoming increasingly popular in the therapeutic arena. This popularity is due to the fact that once this profession is practiced and implemented it is proven therapeutically effective as well as supportive for the therapist/client personal growth and relationship. One of the reasons I have become an art therapist is the desire to educate others in the discovery of their creative expression. This can be used as an unlimited coping mechanism that will enhance personal challenges and life’s issues.
Unfortunately, many do not know about the nature of art therapy and its benefits and erroneously believe that being an art therapist means entertaining people with arts and crafts making. When talking with people about what I do, I rectify such beliefs by explaining that an art therapist needs to be an artist, counselor, and teacher in assisting the client craft his/her system of expression through making art.
I inform them that through crafting personal systems of expression, clients become aware of their cognitive, emotional, and intuitive nature enabling them to embrace life’s challenges with innovative approaches. Once these distinctions are presented and made clear, the once uninformed individual demonstrates interest in knowing more about the qualities and benefits this profession promotes.
It is in wanting to “know more” that education and awareness are planted in the search for better functioning and personal improvement.
Providing the public with necessary information by contributing to the community service in the pursuit of ethical and professional standards will help me build the necessary “crafts” to continue my passion and dedication to art therapy.
– Anna Sandoval, MAAT, ATR
How to Get Started
Unless otherwise noted, sessions are available on a Sliding Fee Schedule. All sessions are available by appointment only. Please schedule an intake appointment if you are a first time client.
If you would like more information about pricing, success stories, or treatment, please call us for more information (813) 609-6946.
We also offer art therapy group sessions and workshops.
Loving Life welcomes members of all communities.