art therapy - NY TIMES

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check out the arts section of today's ny times!

http://www.nytimes.com/iht/2006/01/07/arts/07ther.html

[Guest guest]

Letter to the New York Times

To the editor:

In your article, " At a Russian Hospital, Art Inspires Children " (Jan. 7,

2006), some of the benefits of art therapy, such as encouraging creativity

and fantasy, are mentioned but there is a glaring and overriding

misconception.

The writer seems to think that the practice of art therapy is mainly about

making these suffering children happier through artmaking. While there is

nothing wrong with encouraging happiness, the effect will not last if the

patient does not arrive at that state in a meaningful way. It is only when

the patient expresses truthfully and authentically what he or she feels

while in the process of artmaking, that change and development can occur.

And only by this means can the patient become truly free from the tyranny of

negative feelings and thoughts.

Not meant merely to soothe the unhappy or disturbed, art therapy is a form

of psychotherapy which can yield startling and lasting results.

Giora Carmi

New York, NY

Mr. Carmi is a Peripatetic art therapist practicing in New York City and

Bergen County, New Jersey.

(Email: giora.carmi@...)