Sensory art therapy refers to treatment oriented around sensory stimulation, especially those involving the arts.
An example is music therapy.
Art therapy, dance therapy, and music therapy are sometimes considered forms of complementary medicine. (The term "sensory art therapy" is more broad than "art therapy"; the former term refers to the arts while the latter term refers to visual arts.)
Sensory art therapy is a form of psychological treatment grounded in artistic expression. The purpose of integrating arts into the therapy is to bring the client to self-discovery through the emotions invoked through art. The art acts a de-stressor and coping mechanism for both physical and emotional pain as it creates a distraction and a form to work out the troubling emotions at the same time. It is especially useful for people who have difficulty openly expressing emotions as they can express themselves through their artwork. It is the hope that clients will eventually reach catharsis through their work.
During the introductory session, the therapist will gain the client's trust and ensure their comfort with the artistic process. Like any other therapeutic session, this is essential to the client's progress throughout the treatment. This time is also taken to make sure the client understands that effects of therapy may take time, especially if the person does not consider himself or herself to be creative. While it is advised that art therapy is conducted with the aid of a trained professional, it is possible to conduct the therapy alone, with the guide of a self-help book. The materials used during the session are as expansive as the therapist and client's imagination. The therapist usually provides a broad range of supplied to avoid limiting the client.
Artistic expression has been known throughout history as a valuable method of communicating emotions not easily articulated. Ambrose Tardieu and Paul-Max Simon, French psychiatrist of the nineteenth century studied the effects of art on the mentally ill. They found art therapy to be an effective approach to diagnosing particular psychological illnesses. These findings became the basis for future assessments such as the Draw-A-Person Questionnaire, the Rorschach Inkblot Test, and the Thematic Apperception Test.
Art therapy has grown in popularity as an alternate form of psychological treatment. It has been especially popular for use with children with mental and learning disabilities. Working through art is a fun way for children to learn self-expression or develop sensory areas in the brain.