Art Therapy Research Articles

A critical literature review: deconstructing narratives of trauma in art therapy with young people

ABSTRACT Background This paper addresses the need for critical reflection on how art therapists position themselves and represent their work in the context of diverse frameworks for understanding young people’s adverse life experiences, particularly in relation to the prevalence of trauma discourses. Aims The study examined how art therapists have represented in the literature their practice and research with young people (12-18 years old) experiencing adversity, from 2000 to 2019. Methods Employing Critical Interpretive Synthesis (Dixon-Woods et al., 2006), 26 theoretically-sampled articles were systematically reviewed through an interpretive, inductive and recursive process. Results Art therapists commonly use trauma as a lens to conceptualise young people’s diverse adverse life experiences, with variations based on their theoretical and philosophical orientations. These variations influence how they perceive young people’s needs and art therapy aims. The study also highlights varying levels of creativity and self-agency that young people express in art therapy, emphasising the importance of art therapists’ flexible and tailored approaches. Conclusions The importance of art therapists’ critical awareness when framing and working with young people’s complex life experiences and presentations to avoid stigmatisation and disempowerment is underscored. Implications for practice/policy/future research The study suggests that art therapists’ critical awareness that can enable collaborative practice and researchwith young people with adverse life experiences. It encourages more research into and cultivating art therapists’ conscious awareness of their choice of theoretical alignment and its implications. Additionally, it encourages future research to understand young people’s own conceptualisations of their lived experiences and their perspectives on the ongoing relevance and meaning of art therapy. Plain-language summary This study sought to present the key findings of a critical review of art therapy literature. The main focus of the review was to examine how art therapists represented their work and if there were dominant understandings of trauma influencing art therapists. Using a Critical Interpretive Synthesis method developed by Dixon-Woods et al. (2006), 26 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2000-2019 were selected based on their relevance to this study. The selected articles described art therapy practice and research with young people (12-18 years old) who had various adverse life experiences. These articles were thoroughly reviewed and analysed through a cyclic process of re-examination and interpretation. Findings indicated that while young people’s diverse adverse life experiences were often labelled as trauma, art therapists’ conceptualisations of trauma varied depending on their theoretical and philosophical orientations. Intriguingly, how art therapists perceived the meaning of adverse life experiences influenced how they formulated young people’s needs and the aims of art therapy. Findings also highlighted young people’s creativity and expression of self-agency in their art therapy programmes and the importance of art therapists’ flexible and tailored approaches. Overall, this study highlights the importance of art therapists’ critical awareness when framing and working with young people’s complex life experiences and presentations to avoid stigmatisation and disempowerment. It recommends further exploring and cultivating art therapists’ conscious awareness of what theoretical concepts they align with and the implications of their choice. Additionally, future art therapy practice and research should actively explore the perspectives of young people with adverse life experiences to inform the ongoing relevance and meaning of art therapy.

The Business of Art Therapy: Exploring Art Therapists’ Professional Sustainability in Canada Through Extrinsic Factors and Systems of Influence (Le marché de l’art-thérapie : exploration de la durabilité professionnelle des art-thérapeutes au Canada au travers des facteurs extrinsèques et des systèmes d’influence)

This integrative literature review explores Canadian art therapists’ difficulties of finding and maintaining sustainable employment. When conceiving of what contributes to maintaining sustainable employment, the intersection of art therapist, art therapy culture, and business skills were considered. The goal of this literature review was to understand potential challenges that new and current art therapists may find by collating literature into main key categories that explore extrinsic systems of influence. In this study, extrinsic systems of influence are described as influences outside of an art therapist that contribute to a Canadian art therapist’s experiences of achieving sustainable employment. The literature was categorized into the following extrinsic experiences: gender, social action, activism, advocacy, feminism, psychology of identity and brand, and socialized health care. Two main conceptual recommendations were generated from the review. The first is that using a lens of the psychology of identity and brand can create a unified and inclusive art therapy identity in Canada. This lens can contribute to art therapists more concisely communicating a message of unique values, identity, and benefits. The second finding is that establishing provincial psychotherapy/counseling therapist regulatory colleges will bring recognition and inclusion in healthcare funding in the future. The implication of these two recommendations for future study is to evaluate and assess art therapists’ value offering messaging and employment in mental health care in Canada.

Examining Changes in Taiwan’s New Graduates Through Self-Portraiture Process Research (Examen des changements chez les nouveaux diplômés de Taiwan grâce à la recherche sur le processus d’autoportrait)

New graduates face challenges in job hunting, causing them to doubt their professional abilities and professional performance. The issues of adaptation influence work satisfaction and employee retention. This phenomenological study explored the changes in self-esteem and personal appearance using self-portraits in art therapy. The researchers recruited five new female college graduates (ages 20–25 years) who experienced frustration, low self-esteem, and negative personal appearance in the workplace. We integrated Glaister’s serial self-portraits and Betensky’s phenomenological art therapy practical technical steps to conduct six sessions of an art therapy course with self-portraits as the main axis of creation. Phenomenological study was adopted and Hycner’s (1985) phenomenological analysis steps were applied in this study. The change process observed in the self-portraiture by participants is summarized in three stages: “Opening the Door to Creation: Entering One’s Changing Process of Creating a Self-Portrait,” “Exploring the Realm of Self: To Explore the Process of Drawing a Self-Portrait With Self-awareness,” and “Key Elements of Changing Opportunities: The Self-Portrait Brings Changing Opportunities Regarding Self-Esteem and Personal Appearance.” The results indicate that when individuals overcome their fear of creating self-portraits, they begin to find symbolic meanings such as concrete self-image related to personal issues, personal appearance, or control in work, in the process. The results and limitations of this study are discussed. Future research might consider the use of self-portraits in art therapy process so that new graduates can enhance their control in the work and include male participants to understand their status and process.

Art therapy in a multidisciplinary team with young men in prison

ABSTRACT Background People in prison often present with histories of trauma that can be difficult to process in the volatile prison environment. This article seeks to advance our understanding of the benefits of art therapy within a multidisciplinary team, and how it can help young men in prison who have experienced trauma. Context A review of the art therapy-informed interventions offered for trauma stabilisation in a service for young adult men in prison with complex needs is presented. Approach This article discusses a trauma-informed service in the prison and the variety of ways in which art therapy can support people in prison with histories of complex trauma. It explores: the use of art therapy in a group focusing on improving the prison environment; the role of art therapy in supporting trauma stabilisation and the development of ‘safe place’ processing; and the use of art therapy tools to explore dissociation with service users prior to engaging in trauma therapy. Conclusions The article highlights the vital role of art therapy as a non-verbal therapy to support young men to heal their past trauma. Reflections are offered on the importance of embedding art therapy within a service’s trauma therapy pathway. Implications for research It is recommended that research into the use of art therapy within prison settings is undertaken which could explore its utility in supporting people to process their trauma. This would provide further evidence for the role that non-verbal therapies may play in healing trauma.

Creative arts as self-care: vicarious trauma, resilience and the trainee art therapist

ABSTRACT Background Research shows that indirect trauma can negatively affect professionals in helping professions, with students and young professionals at greater risk, particularly if they have a personal history of trauma. Research suggests that engaging in the creative arts may help professionals process vicarious trauma and promote resilience. Context This paper explores the use of creative arts practice for self-care by an art therapy trainee with lived experience of somatic disorder symptoms and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), working in a secure setting. Approach Using a trauma lens, the paper discusses how the creative arts can ameliorate the effects of indirect trauma when working as a trainee art therapist in a challenging context. The trainee’s early life experiences elucidate the challenges of countertransference and trauma. The creative arts process supports the reflexive skills an art therapist uses for effective practice. Outcomes The creative arts as a self-care practice supported the trainee art therapist to negotiate her dissociative defence style. It was an effective tool for managing the ill-effects of exposure to trauma, including somatic symptoms, and benefited the trainee’s development. Conclusions The creative arts helped the trainee to reconnect with her body and emotions, and subsequently benefited her clinical thinking. Implications for research Art therapy training programmes could include explicitly teaching about the risks and benefits of working in the profession, as this may promote longevity and improve therapeutic outcomes for service users. Further research on dissociative responses to trauma and creative arts as self-care for therapists would be valuable. Plain-language summary Research in the past 30 years has found that people working in helping professions are at risk of experiencing trauma symptoms through their work with service users. This can have a negative effect on their health and wellbeing, as well as their relationships with others. If unaddressed it can also negatively affect their ability to provide effective therapy. Students and people with a history of trauma are at greater risk. This paper explores the personal experience of a trainee art therapist working in a secure hospital setting. It describes how creative arts practice helped the trainee to cope with the challenging content of therapy sessions and promote their own wellbeing. It uses the trainee’s experience as a young carer to elucidate the emotional and physical toll of caring and the long-lasting impact it can have. The trainee’s experiences suggest that the creative arts can help with high levels of stress and hypervigilance, negative physical symptoms and personal trauma triggers, and promote greater wellbeing. The article calls for research into the value of including teaching around trauma, including physical symptoms, in training programmes for art therapists, and how the creative arts can be used as a self-care tool.

The Visual Life Story Approach: A Tool for Transformation and Well-Being in Museum Art Therapy With Immigrant Adults (L’approche visuelle du récit de vie : un outil de transformation et de bien-être en art-thérapie muséale auprès d’adultes immigrants)

The narrative, arts-based research described in this article explores the visual life story approach with a group of immigrant adults (N = 7) of various cultural origins conducted in partnership with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA). The art therapy research examines the joint contribution of life story and artistic creation to enhancing the coherence of the participants’ narrative identities and psychological well-being. The phenomenological, narrative, arts-based method includes in-depth interviews focusing on the participants’ verbal accounts of their lives, followed by 12 art therapy sessions that allowed the embodiment of their lived experience into artworks. Results identify the therapeutic factors that enhance psychological well-being and highlight the integrative function of the visual life story approach. They demonstrate the healing power of art making in the company of others, and its capacity to promote reflexivity and facilitate the exploration of existential themes of universal significance. Ultimately, museum-based art therapy contributes to a heightened sense of well-being and empowerment.

Photo Art Therapy: Coproducing a Community Arts-Based Research With Children in Care (Art-thérapie par la photo : coproduire une recherche fondée sur les arts communautaires avec des enfants pris en charge)

Photography is a powerful means of creative expression but it is often overlooked in the field of creative therapies. In this arts-based research, we describe a collaborative community project informed by the principles and practice of art therapy with former street children in residential care (age range 9 to 15). Ten participants used cameras to document their stories through images, they engaged in group discussions, made individual photo albums, and community photo exhibitions. The project was designed with the input of the participants to ensure cultural appropriateness and user engagement. We assessed the value of photography as both a tool for therapy and an artistic medium. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), the authors looked at the images as artworks and means of expression. Participants identified how photography helped to re-tell and gain control of their life stories, explored future aspirations, and regained a sense of social responsibility. With the visual evidence of their stories, group discussions and exhibitions, they became active agents of community engagement and social change. Future studies can further explore photo art therapy as a method to improve individual and group well-being. The healing potential of photographs and photography as useful tools for social cohesion, sensitization, and emotional well-being are discussed as project outcomes.

Discovering Chronic Sorrow: An Arts-Based Autoethnographic Journey With Art Therapy and Metaphor (À la découverte du chagrin chronique : un voyage autoethnographique fondé sur les arts puisant à l’art-thérapie et la métaphore)

A qualitative, arts-based autoethnographic method explored the topic of chronic sorrow through the creation and engagement of art therapy invitations. This is my personal journey and discovery of chronic sorrow as a professional art therapist and primary caregiver to my disabled child. Included in this study are unique perspectives through a first-hand lens which were discovered through art and writing reflections. Chronic sorrow is a type of living grief and non-death loss that affects parents of disabled children, among others. Various grief theories were presented with a recommended grief and bereavement model to support chronic sorrow. This recommended grief framework was applied to art therapy invitations that integrated metaphor theory, positive art therapy, and the companioning model of grief support. The purpose of the study was to explore whether resiliency could be achieved while companioning with feelings of chronic sorrow. This inquiry included 17 art invitations and 3 of these art invitations were included in this study accompanied with visual art and writing reflections.

The Effect of Creative Visual Art Therapy on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: A Literature Review (L’effet de la thérapie créative par les arts visuels sur la tension artérielle et la fréquence cardiaque : une revue de la littérature)

The effects of creative art therapy (CAT) on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) have been scarcely examined. The objective of this study was to summarize the current literature examining the effects of CAT on BP and HR. A systematic review was completed using the databases Pubmed, Medline, and Embase. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria of the database search. One paper found an association with reduced BP, three found an association with reduced HR, four found an association with increased heart rate variability (HRV), and one found a decrease in respiratory sinus arrhythmia that is associated with an increase in HR. Additionally, two more papers that involved looking at art rather than making art are discussed, accounting for those who have reduced ability to engage in art making. The specific art modality used was also shown to affect efficacy. The effect of CAT on cardiovascular parameters remains conflicting. Most papers examined in this review present promising findings of increased heart rate variability, and reduced BP and HR. Nevertheless, other papers found conflicting effects on cardiovascular parameters. As such, further studies should be conducted to resolve the inconsistent findings in this field.

Role of Art Therapy in Identity Exploration Among LGBTQIA+ Individuals: A Scoping Review (Rôle de l'art-thérapie dans l’exploration de l’identité chez les personnes LGBTQIA+ : un examen de la portée)

This scoping review explores the relatively uncharted territory of art therapy’s potential influence on the identity exploration and well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals. This synthesis of peer reviewed research gathered from diverse databases (such as SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and Elsevier) underscores the promising role of art therapy in assisting individuals to navigate the intricate path of comprehending their sexual and gender identities. The review also highlights the necessity for the establishment of ethical guidelines for supporting the community. The scoping review contributes to the evolving understanding of art therapy’s efficacy within the LGBTQIA+ context, and emphasizes application and practice with diverse cultural groups.

Analysis of the Role and Effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence in Art Therapy

Abstract This paper discusses the critical role of art therapy in solving various psychological problems, and introduces an innovative immersive and interactive art therapy mechanism based on artificial intelligence (AI), which combines machine learning and AI algorithms to realize embodied interactions between the learner, the machine, and the environment.The study analyzes the changes of students’ status before and after receiving art therapy in terms of various dimensions, including students’ social avoidance, general well-being, and self-emotions. Using regression modeling, the study validated the positive effects of art therapy on students’ mental health, cognitive abilities, and depression levels. It showed that art therapy had a statistically significant impact on improving students’ mental health, cognition, and reducing depressive symptoms at the 1% level of significance. Students who participated in art therapy had a 0.329 unit increase in mental health scores compared to non-participants, and this study provides a valuable reference and idea for the application of expressive art therapy in mental health education.

Enhancing Social Responsiveness in Autism: The Impact of Art Therapy

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of art therapy in enhancing social responsiveness among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Given the challenges faced by individuals with ASD in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors, art therapy has been proposed as a promising therapeutic intervention to ameliorate these challenges. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was employed, involving 40 participants with ASD, aged between 8 and 16 years. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group that received a structured art therapy program or a control group that received no intervention. The art therapy program consisted of 10 sessions, each lasting 75 minutes, designed to encourage social interaction, emotional expression, and the development of social skills. The Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2), was administered at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up to assess changes in social responsiveness. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements indicated a significant improvement in social responsiveness scores for the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.01). The Bonferroni post-hoc test revealed significant improvements in social responsiveness from baseline to post-test and follow-up in the experimental group, with no significant difference observed between post-test and follow-up scores, indicating the sustainability of the intervention's effects. The findings suggest that art therapy is an effective intervention for enhancing social responsiveness among individuals with ASD. The structured art therapy program provided a beneficial impact on participants' social skills and behaviors, with improvements sustained over the three-month follow-up period. This study contributes to the evidence base supporting the use of art therapy in therapeutic interventions for individuals with ASD, highlighting its potential to improve social interaction and communication skills.

Comparing the Effectiveness of Music Therapy, Dance Movement, and Art Therapy on the Mistrust/Mistreatment Schema in Women with Symptoms of Depression Aged 20-30

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the impact of music therapy, dance movement, and art therapy on the mistrust/mistreatment schema among women aged 20 to 30 with symptoms of depression visiting counseling centers in Tehran. Method: This research is applied in purpose and quasi-experimental in method, employing a pre-test - post-test design. The population consisted of all women aged 20 to 30 with symptoms of depression who visited four counseling centers in Tehran, among whom 60 eligible individuals were purposively selected and randomly assigned to four groups (three experimental and one control). Interventions based on the therapeutic protocol (music therapy and dance movement, art therapy) were conducted in eight sessions for the experimental groups, while the control group received no intervention. To test the hypotheses, the Young Schema Questionnaire (1988) (short form of 90 questions) was used. Descriptive and inferential statistical indices, including the covariance test, were utilized for data analysis. Findings: The results showed no significant differences in the effectiveness of music therapy, art therapy, and dance therapy on the mistrust/mistreatment schema among women aged 20 to 30 with symptoms of depression visiting counseling centers in Tehran (p = 0.000). Conclusion: It can be concluded that since all three methods of music therapy, art therapy, and dance movement are forms of art therapy, they all affect the mistrust/mistreatment schema, and there is no significant difference in their effectiveness.

Cross-cultural application of archetypal images in art therapy in China: A case study of Mandala images

Due to their ancient healing genes and significant modern therapeutic implications, Archetypal symbols have been widely employed in art therapy practices. However, research on their application effectiveness still lacks discussion in cross-cultural contexts. This study focuses on the use of archetypal symbols in art therapy—particularly Mandala images—within the cultural context of China. The research focuses on exploring the cultural adaptability of Mandala art therapy in China, along with the cultural challenges and opportunities faced in empirical studies. It further investigates the efforts made by Chinese therapists to optimize Mandala art therapy techniques, enabling better integration into Chinese cultural and therapeutic practices. The results indicate that although research and application in this field are still in the exploratory stage in China, Mandala drawing therapy has demonstrated effective healing and evaluative roles in empirical studies in China. It confronts cultural challenges with localized attempts, revealing the universality and localization trends of archetypal symbols in cross-cultural art therapy practices.

The Effects of Art Therapy and Psychosocial Skills Training on Symptoms and Social Functioning in Patients with Schizophrenia and Their Relatives.

The effects of antipsychotics on negative symptoms are limited. The most appropriate approach in the treatment of schizophrenia is the integration of drug therapy with psychological and social interventions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of art therapy and psychosocial skills training (PSST) in the treatment of schizophrenia. A total of 15 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the criteria in DSM-5 and 12 patient relatives were included in the study. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, 7 were included in the art therapy program and 8 were included in the PSST program for schizophrenia. 90-minute sessions of art therapy and PSST were carried out once a week for 17 weeks. Participants with schizophrenia were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Social Functioning Scale (SFS) and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia and the relatives were given Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Zarit Burden Interview. There was a significant decrease in the PANSS negative symptoms, PANSS general psychopathology, SFS pro-social activities and SFS recreation scores in both groups, while the SFS social withdrawal scores decreased significantly only in the art therapy group. In the PANSS negative symptoms subscale, passive social withdrawal, difficulty in abstract thinking, lack of spontaneity and flow of conversation and stereotyped thinking scores were significantly lower in the art therapy group. In the PSST group only the score for difficulty in abstract thinking declined significantly. The findings of the present study suggest that art therapy and PSST have positive effects on the improvement of negative symptoms as well as improvements in social and cognitive functionality in schizophrenia.

The role of art therapy on quality of life of women with recent pregnancy loss: A randomized clinical trial.

Pregnancy loss and mourning can lead to psychological adverse effects on women's quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of art therapy on the quality of life of women with pregnancy loss. This study was a randomized clinical trial performed on 60 women who recently experienced abortion or stillbirth. After randomization in two groups (30 in each group), women in the intervention group received four session art therapy. In the control group, routine care was performed. The Perinatal Grief Scale and World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire, short version 26, was used to collect data before and eight weeks after intervention, and the result was compared before and after the intervention in both groups. The mean age of participants was 26.5±4.75 years. Eight weeks after the intervention, the mean score of the total quality of life was significantly different between the two groups (348.64±13.12 vs.254.46±58.35; P>0.01). Also, all physical, psychological, social, and environmental dimensions of quality of life improved in the art therapy group compared to the control group (P>0.01). Art therapy could improve the quality-of-life following pregnancy loss, and can be recommended as a complementary method next to routine care. IRCT20200104046002N1.

Effectiveness of trauma-focused art therapy (TFAT) for psychological trauma: study protocol of a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design

IntroductionTreatments such as eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing and (narrative) exposure therapies are commonly used in psychological trauma. In everyday practice, art therapy is also often used, although rigorous research...

Effectiveness of Art Therapy and Physical Activity in Improving Quality of Sleep in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Quasi-experimental Pilot Study

Introduction: Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy (CP) is characterised by abnormalities in movement and posture, along with sensory and tone abnormalities. It also represents significant impairments in cognition and sleep quality. Art activity involves playfulness, creativity, improvisation, and brings benefits to cognition and the alleviation of mental suffering. Physical activity shows considerable improvement in sleep quality as it concentrates on cardiorespiratory fitness and increases total energy expenditure. Aim: To evaluate the effect of art therapy and physical activity on sleep quality in children with hemiplegic CP. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental pilot study was performed among six ambulant children with hemiplegic CP in December 2022 at MGM School of Physiotherapy, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. Both male and female children aged between 4 to 12 years were included in the study. Pretest scores were recorded using the Paediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ). The participants then underwent a physiotherapy protocol lasting one hour, which included art therapy along with upper limb physical activities for four weeks. Art therapy included colouring pictures, drawing geometrical shapes, line-drawing connections, thumbprints, and vegetable prints. The protocol was given for one month, which included three sessions of art therapy and physical activity each week. Parents and children were encouraged to follow the protocol before sleep. At the end of one month, postscoring of all outcome measures was calculated, and statistical analysis was done using the paired t-test. Results: From the results, the median pretest and post-test PSQ scores were 0.68 and 0.49, respectively. Interquartile Range (IQR) value for the outcome measure was 0.0675 and 0.0775, which was significant. Conclusion: Art therapy, along with physical activity, improved sleep quality in children with hemiplegic CP.

The Impact of Art Therapy on Shyness and Social Skills in Students

Objective: The school, as a formal education system, plays a decisive role in the socialization of children. The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of art therapy on shyness and social skills among male students in the city of Khormooj. Methods and Materials: This applied research, in terms of purpose, utilized an experimental design employing a pre-test post-test with a control group. The research population included all male students of Khormooj city in the academic year 2022-2023, from which 30 students were randomly selected and assigned to two groups: experimental (15 students) and control (15 students). The experimental group received an art therapy training program over eight sessions, while the control group was on a waitlist. The research instruments were the Gresham and Elliott (1990) Social Skills Questionnaire and the Samooei (2003) Shyness Questionnaire. The data from the pre-test and post-test stages were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and SPSS software version 22. Findings: The results showed that art therapy significantly affects the shyness of students in Khormooj; it also significantly affects their social skills. All research findings were significant at the α=0.05 level. Conclusion: Students with communication problems experience numerous interpersonal issues while interacting with peers in the school environment and during play, leading to the emergence of negative behaviors such as shyness; therefore, it can be concluded from the research findings that art therapy is effective in improving social skills and reducing shyness in students.

The influence and development of painting therapy on psychological treatment of Chinese teenagers

With the satisfaction of material basis, people have paid more attention to the spiritual field, and psychological treatment has attracted more people’s attention. As an important form of psychological treatment, art therapy plays an important role in regulating psychology. As the group with a high frequency of psychological problems, contemporary teenagers should be the main target of social attention. As an effective healing method that is more easily accepted by teenagers, art therapy needs to be noticed by more people. This article focuses on painting therapy and summarizes the development of art therapy. At the same time, aiming at the Chinese youth group, summarizes the current situation of Chinese art therapy, and puts forward suggestions. This paper has conducted research in two aspects: Firstly, through case studies, the effectiveness of painting therapy was explored; Secondly, through a literature survey, the effectiveness of painting therapy on teenagers was explored, and the influence of different painting styles and different fields on the healing effect is explored. The research results show that painting therapy can effectively improve the psychological condition of teenagers, and natural art is the most effective form of painting for teenagers’ healing effect.