Digital media use in art therapy is expected to rise as devices such as tablets and phablets are becoming more prevalent in our daily lives. More and more art therapists are discussing how they use digital tools to help their clients express themselves. So, it wasn’t surprising to see the term, Digital Art Therapy (DAT) entering art therapy’s vernacular to describe this recent phenomenon. However, I must admit that I have great difficultly accepting this term. I am glad that more people are aware that art therapy is not limited to using conventional art practices such as painting and sculpture, but separately labeling the use of digital media in art therapy makes it sound like it’s different from the usual art therapy people know. When our clients use paint in art therapy, we don’t term it “Paint Art Therapy”. Then why should we label the use of digital media as Digital Art Therapy?
The principles and theory of art therapy do not change just because a client uses a different medium. The use of “Digital” in front of our professional field has the potential to confuse consumers who may already have some misconceptions about art therapy. What are your thoughts about the term Digital Art Therapy.
The Digital Art Therapy has many advantages, but it cost much more than a pen. So it looks like a dream – like a luxury to Modus Vivendi who works mostly on a voluntary basis – without any support.
On the other hand, our financial poverty is our advantage against the computers : the eye to eye contact can’t fight with the Digitals on the field of information, but enables the healing relationships that miraculously blossom out from our dark windows
http://arthiker.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/smile-in-disguise/
Thank you for your comment. Your point exactly illustrates how the term “Digital Art Therapy” could be mistakenly associated with using only computers or digital devices to conduct therapy instead of the usual therapist and client interaction. Using a tablet and finger to make art does not take away any more time from human interaction in therapy than using a canvas and paint.
I too believe that ‘digital art therapy’ can be difficult in its terminology and how it might imply a separation from other materials use in art therapy. Ultimately I agree that digital media should be one choice from many materials in expanding media palettes for clients and art therapists. As mentioned in the previous post, there are distinct qualities such as cost that make it very different from a pen. Moreover, on many levels there are interactive ecologies of meanings and portals to other worlds that require informed participation and consciousness in its use.
Art therapists can be informed facilitators of technology yet also potentially gullible in a quick rush to use this dynamic media, if blind to the expertise and subtleties of balance between technician, artist, and clinician roles. The computer is a complex tool compared to a pen or paintbrush because it contains creative capacities potently mixed with portals of information and virtual worlds outside of the therapy studio. Because of the Internet presence and the multiple possibilities available at the click of a mouse, the client may lose focus or become disengaged from the therapist and therapeutic space. The opposite might be true as well where these portals and other virtual dimensions might heighten client focus and engagement. Graphic pens and paintbrushes can distract and engage the client and digital pathways can transport clients from the therapy room entirely. The role of the therapist is not to be unaware and let the media lead the work but rather drive digital worlds and tools with clients to heighten the creativity and art forms available there. The art therapist must remain knowledgeable and vigilant regarding the potent presence digital media can pose for various clients in the therapeutic setting and how to diligently apply the media to build rapport and attain therapeutic goals.
Digital art therapy might be misleading as a term but it also might aptly point to distinct qualities for physical, sensory, relational, and virtual exchanges in the therapy studio that must be conscious adaption and integration of that potent media.