VOCABULARY: Art Therapy Training
Resources Exam-Graded A
'Open Studio' Model - ANS-Keeps the focus on 'art' within art therapy. This model helps
to avoid the 'clinification' of art therapy, a syndrome that 'neglects to employ the very
specialized knowledge that derives from our background in art making itself'. The open
studio model works on the premise that it is part of the art therapist's role to pursue his
or her own art making as a way to create 'a bridge to and from her core self to her role
as therapist' (Carr, 2014, 54-70).
Community Healing Studio - ANS-Historically rooted in art therapy but most often is
associated with the open studio model (Kapitan, Litell, & Torres, p. 65).
Holding Environment - ANS-An adapting environment sensitive to a patient's changing
levels of ego integration, defenses, resistances, object representations, and the like
(Robbins, A., 1987, p. 104).
Clinical Approach to Art Therapy - ANS-Work that is part of a team that includes
physicians, psychologists, nurses, mental health counselors, marriage and family
therapists, rehabilitation counselors, social workers, and teachers. Together, they
determine and implement a client's therapeutic goals and objectives.
Outsider Art - ANS-Art created by artists without fine art training or art historical
influence. (Vick, 2011, p.153).
In-house Shows - ANS-The most typical form of exhibition found in the art therapy
context. Small scale shows that are organized for therapeutic, social, or educational
purpose. These exhibits are conducted without drawing the attention on the commercial
art world. (Vick, 2011, p.156).
Community Based Art Therapy - ANS-Goal of treatment is to "reframe clients as artist"
from the more ethically questionable behaviors of posting content lifted from art
psychotherapy sessions. (Belkofer, McNutt, 2011,p.162).
Artistic Sensibility - ANS-A capacity that increases attention to one's own creative
process, which can inform such mental states as "acceptance, confidence, freedom,
empathy, compassion, recognition of choice, insight, symbolization, personal vision, and
an increased tolerance for imperfection and ambiguity" (Morris, Willis-Rauch, 2014; p
28-36).
, Fluid materials - ANS-Materials such as watercolor paint that often yield surprising
results, were recommended for revealing and expressing hard-to-access emotions
(Spiegel, Malchiodi, Backos, & Collie, 2006; 157-164).
'Third hand' technique - ANS-'An area of the art therapist's functioning wherein artistic
competence and imagination are employed in the empathic service of others' and 'a
hand that helps the creative process along without being intrusive, without distorting
meaning or imposing pictorial ideas or preferences alien to the client' (Carr, 2014; 54-
70).
Containment - ANS-Structure, control, and sense of mastery of repetitive fine motor
activities that some patients need as fine and gross motor skills connect with
developmental issues. Containment also can come from using materials in a way that
reduces stimulation level of limits movement, like collage with selection of materials
predetermined by the therapist or use of crayons or pencils on paper carefully selected
for size. Containment is especially appropriate for patients with psychotic organization,
whose boundaries are already too fluid or who experience their environments as
manipulative or chaotic (Robbins, 1987; 104-115).
Mandala - ANS-Hindu word derived from Sanskrit meaning circle or center. The circle is
the archetype of wholeness and perfection. Could be drawn as a personal form of
meditation. It is believed that mandala drawings reflect different parts of the psyche,
both conscious and unconscious, and that mandala has the power to heal and unify the
personality (Jung, 1965; Slegelis, 1987).
Culturally Competent Practice - ANS-Requires developing of (a) awareness of the self,
(b) awareness and knowledge of other cultures' beliefs and behaviors, (c) awareness
and knowledge of cultural dynamics and interactions that exist between the art therapist
and the client, and (d) skills and interventions that are ethical and appropriate for clients
with cultural backgrounds that differ from the art therapist's (ter Maat, p.9).
Scribble Technique - ANS-Useful for the client who "feels stuck". Rapid and non-
threatening way to get to know a client; May stimulate freedom and spontaneity;
Sometimes included: breathing and movement exercises.
Selection of Artistic Elements - ANS-During art-making, the selection of artistic elements
affirms the sovereignty of the mind in that the artist has the freedom to manipulate the
visual elements to correspond with their own subtle states of mind (Schapiro, 1937).
ATR-N - ANS-Noah Hass-Cohen's theory, Art Therapy Relational Neuroscience
Principles is a system of six principles that provide art therapists with information on the
neurobiology of emotion, cognition, and behavior so that they can fine-tune art-making
interventions. ATR-N is based on findings that automatic responses of the autonomous
nervous system (breathing and heart rate) can be placed under conscious control
during the art-making process, which can decrease stress and enhance mood. Through
ATR-N, creative professionals can teach participants to synchronize bodily functions
Resources Exam-Graded A
'Open Studio' Model - ANS-Keeps the focus on 'art' within art therapy. This model helps
to avoid the 'clinification' of art therapy, a syndrome that 'neglects to employ the very
specialized knowledge that derives from our background in art making itself'. The open
studio model works on the premise that it is part of the art therapist's role to pursue his
or her own art making as a way to create 'a bridge to and from her core self to her role
as therapist' (Carr, 2014, 54-70).
Community Healing Studio - ANS-Historically rooted in art therapy but most often is
associated with the open studio model (Kapitan, Litell, & Torres, p. 65).
Holding Environment - ANS-An adapting environment sensitive to a patient's changing
levels of ego integration, defenses, resistances, object representations, and the like
(Robbins, A., 1987, p. 104).
Clinical Approach to Art Therapy - ANS-Work that is part of a team that includes
physicians, psychologists, nurses, mental health counselors, marriage and family
therapists, rehabilitation counselors, social workers, and teachers. Together, they
determine and implement a client's therapeutic goals and objectives.
Outsider Art - ANS-Art created by artists without fine art training or art historical
influence. (Vick, 2011, p.153).
In-house Shows - ANS-The most typical form of exhibition found in the art therapy
context. Small scale shows that are organized for therapeutic, social, or educational
purpose. These exhibits are conducted without drawing the attention on the commercial
art world. (Vick, 2011, p.156).
Community Based Art Therapy - ANS-Goal of treatment is to "reframe clients as artist"
from the more ethically questionable behaviors of posting content lifted from art
psychotherapy sessions. (Belkofer, McNutt, 2011,p.162).
Artistic Sensibility - ANS-A capacity that increases attention to one's own creative
process, which can inform such mental states as "acceptance, confidence, freedom,
empathy, compassion, recognition of choice, insight, symbolization, personal vision, and
an increased tolerance for imperfection and ambiguity" (Morris, Willis-Rauch, 2014; p
28-36).
, Fluid materials - ANS-Materials such as watercolor paint that often yield surprising
results, were recommended for revealing and expressing hard-to-access emotions
(Spiegel, Malchiodi, Backos, & Collie, 2006; 157-164).
'Third hand' technique - ANS-'An area of the art therapist's functioning wherein artistic
competence and imagination are employed in the empathic service of others' and 'a
hand that helps the creative process along without being intrusive, without distorting
meaning or imposing pictorial ideas or preferences alien to the client' (Carr, 2014; 54-
70).
Containment - ANS-Structure, control, and sense of mastery of repetitive fine motor
activities that some patients need as fine and gross motor skills connect with
developmental issues. Containment also can come from using materials in a way that
reduces stimulation level of limits movement, like collage with selection of materials
predetermined by the therapist or use of crayons or pencils on paper carefully selected
for size. Containment is especially appropriate for patients with psychotic organization,
whose boundaries are already too fluid or who experience their environments as
manipulative or chaotic (Robbins, 1987; 104-115).
Mandala - ANS-Hindu word derived from Sanskrit meaning circle or center. The circle is
the archetype of wholeness and perfection. Could be drawn as a personal form of
meditation. It is believed that mandala drawings reflect different parts of the psyche,
both conscious and unconscious, and that mandala has the power to heal and unify the
personality (Jung, 1965; Slegelis, 1987).
Culturally Competent Practice - ANS-Requires developing of (a) awareness of the self,
(b) awareness and knowledge of other cultures' beliefs and behaviors, (c) awareness
and knowledge of cultural dynamics and interactions that exist between the art therapist
and the client, and (d) skills and interventions that are ethical and appropriate for clients
with cultural backgrounds that differ from the art therapist's (ter Maat, p.9).
Scribble Technique - ANS-Useful for the client who "feels stuck". Rapid and non-
threatening way to get to know a client; May stimulate freedom and spontaneity;
Sometimes included: breathing and movement exercises.
Selection of Artistic Elements - ANS-During art-making, the selection of artistic elements
affirms the sovereignty of the mind in that the artist has the freedom to manipulate the
visual elements to correspond with their own subtle states of mind (Schapiro, 1937).
ATR-N - ANS-Noah Hass-Cohen's theory, Art Therapy Relational Neuroscience
Principles is a system of six principles that provide art therapists with information on the
neurobiology of emotion, cognition, and behavior so that they can fine-tune art-making
interventions. ATR-N is based on findings that automatic responses of the autonomous
nervous system (breathing and heart rate) can be placed under conscious control
during the art-making process, which can decrease stress and enhance mood. Through
ATR-N, creative professionals can teach participants to synchronize bodily functions
