Art Therapy and Self-Esteem

The impact of creating art and how this process relates to the elevation of self-esteem is often taken for granted by professionals in both art therapy and other fields. While there is little doubt concerning the validity of this relationship, there does seem to be a lack of research and a lack of understanding concerning this issue. All too often the subject of self-esteem is loosely defined, resulting in an oversimplified view of its meaning. This paper discusses ideas from literature on self-esteem that relate to both the art making process and overall treatment goals targeted in an art therapy setting. The art component of art therapy is stressed throughout since it is believed that an isomorphic relationship exists between specific features of self-esteem and this central component of our work.