The healing powers of art therapy A new exhibition showcases work created by clients during art therapy sessions.

The Telegraph article can be read from this link, The healing powers of art therapy. What is important to my research is the statement which Val Huct gave. Bellow I have copied the three paragraphs which again underpins the direction in which I am heading in my work.  

"It is accepted that taking part in art therapy is usually beneficial for the client, and showing these works to the public is certainly good for raising awareness and understanding. So perhaps the only remaining question is whether exhibiting these artworks is good for the clients.

All clients must give their consent before their work is shown, but it could be argued that the very knowledge that the work may be exhibited changes the creation of it. If the purpose of art therapy is the process of making, rather than showing the final piece, couldn't it be said that exhibitions like the The Healing Mind distort it?

Val Huet says she understands such concerns, but doesn't feel that exhibiting the work has an adverse affect on the clients, because they were only offered the opportunity to exhibit the work after it had been created. In fact, she says that showing the work is good for the clients: "It gives them a feeling of empowerment as they are being treated as artists doing something, rather than patients having something done to them.It is accepted that taking part in art therapy is usually beneficial for the client, and showing these works to the public is certainly good for raising awareness and understanding. So perhaps the only remaining question is whether exhibiting these artworks is good for the clients.

All clients must give their consent before their work is shown, but it could be argued that the very knowledge that the work may be exhibited changes the creation of it. If the purpose of art therapy is the process of making, rather than showing the final piece, couldn't it be said that exhibitions like the The Healing Mind distort it?

Val Huet says she understands such concerns, but doesn't feel that exhibiting the work has an adverse affect on the clients, because they were only offered the opportunity to exhibit the work after it had been created. In fact, she says that showing the work is good for the clients: "It gives them a feeling of empowerment as they are being treated as artists doing something, rather than patients having something done to them.