ART THERAPY AND PSYCHOLOGY: INTER(FACE)S AND FIELD(S) OF POSSIBILITIES

Resumen

Art therapy has been used as a supportive tool for health promotion within the field of mental health. In this sense, psychologists, situated within this context, have recognized art as a possible and effective resource for the development of their practice. Art, as one of the primordial forms of human communication since prehistoric times, presents itself as a means of expressing feelings, thoughts, desires, and dreams. Within this framework, art therapy emerges as a therapeutic approach that enables individuals to externalize such contents through non-verbal expression, using artistic language as a mediating channel. This study analyzes the effectiveness of art therapy in mental health care and in coping with psychological distress, as well as investigates which practices may be considered relevant to the field of Psychology. To this end, a narrative literature review was conducted using online databases. Based on the information analyzed, the positive effects of art therapy on mental health and its interfaces with psychological practice were observed. In addition, the importance of this approach is discussed in supporting autonomy, self-esteem, subjectivity, and the way subjects deal with their own feelings.