Benefits of Art Therapy The human race is subject to conflicts, stress, mistakes, problems and difficulties. Since the beginning of time we have been faced with difficult situations. It is reasonable to believe that we will all, at some point in our lives, face a situation in which we feel overwhelmed. While we can't prevent turbulence, we can deal with it however we want. Some options we tend to use when dealing with conflict are avoidance, journaling, psychotherapy, and art therapy. With many options available, what is the best solution? Art therapy is successful in virtually all situations in helping people deal with the difficulties they endure throughout their lives. It is especially beneficial for medical patients, victims of domestic or social violence and disabled people. What is art therapy? According to the American Art Therapy Association, it is the therapeutic use of artistic creation, within a professional relationship, by people experiencing illness, trauma, or challenges in life, and by people seeking personal development. This type of therapy uses art as the primary source of communication to heal patients. With the use of art materials and creative techniques, art therapy promotes personal growth, self-reflection and emotional stability. Art therapy is often used in conjunction with counseling to improve the patient's overall well-being. Art therapy helps patients in medical settings, especially children and adolescents. Tracy Councill, an art therapist, explains how art therapy helps patients in hospitals deal with the insecurity of the situations they face. "Medical applications of art therapy are a natural extension of the use of art therapy with psychiatric populations. The fundamental q. ..... middle of paper ......y the stimulation of their artwork . Art therapy helps people with special needs and learning difficulties to express themselves and adapt to everyday difficulties such as teamwork, communication and more because in many cases the patient may be scared or unable to communicate the ability to express what he is dealing with without feeling misunderstood. The arguments and supporting evidence presented help to establish art therapy as a legitimate treatment for many people in many different circumstances people show great difficulty expressing themselves verbally. Expressive art therapy is a successful alternative to traditional psychotherapy approaches. Art therapy is an opportunity for people to thrive and heal themselves through creativity and self-expression.