Instant Access To 100,000+ Essays!

Music and art therapy produce results that are more effective for autistic patients than any other currently prescribed treatment. Art therapy is designed to reunite emotional conflict and promote personal growth. Unlike conservative methods of treatment, art therapy puts emphasis on non-verbal communication making the most of uncomplicated art materials (Goldberg, 2002). The therapist allows the individual to select from an array of art media, such as a pencil, paint or clay, to provide expression to reserved thoughts and feelings associated with conflicts, traumatic experiences, fantasies, dreams, self-image and patterns of relationships with others. The therapist uses therapeutic practices such as developing social skills, nurturing self-awareness, self-esteem, reconciling emotional conflicts, and reducing anxiety (Autism Society of America). The point of art therapy has nothing to do with artistic talent; therefore, having a prior background in drawing and painting is not necessary in this method. Instead, the therapy is intended to facilitate a line of communication connecting the patient and the therapist and improve verbal therapy. Throughout an artistic progression, the art therapist searches for a way in helping