Autism and Art Therapy: A Creative Outlet for Expression

Art is a great way for people to express themselves. Whether it’s in the form of drawing, coloring, painting, using clay or any other medium, art provides a way for people to share their talents in innovative ways.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are commonly visual thinkers. This means that they often do much better with pictures and visual aids than they do with written or spoken words.

It’s no surprise, then, that children on the autism spectrum often flock to, and thrive with, art in its many forms.

There are many benefits that art can provide children with autism, which is why art therapy may be suggested as part of their treatment plan. But, what is art therapy and what role can it play for children with ASD?

We’ll discuss those topics below.

Table Of Contents

What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a relatively new sector of mental health that helps people express their emotions in a safe and judgment-free environment, while also helping to build other essential life skills. Administered by a trained professional therapist, art therapy seeks to achieve relational and personal goals.

Art therapy may be used to help improve cognitive function, foster a sense of self-awareness and build self-esteem, promote emotional resilience as well as insight, help reduce distress and conflicts and also enhance a person’s social skills.

The goal of art therapy is to engage a person’s spirit, body and mind in unique ways that are very distinct from just verbal articulation. There are many different sensory inputs that are used when making art, and this can lead to people improving their expressive and receptive communication as a result.

Common Art Therapy Activities for Children with ASD

Why Does Art Resonate with Children on the Autism Spectrum?

As many children with autism are visual thinkers, art acts as a great medium to help encourage them to better express themselves. Instead of having to speak or write what they’re feeling, they are able to use different artistic mediums to convey that message.

Art allows children with autism the freedom to express themselves in whatever ways they want — using different colors, shapes, textures and mediums to get those emotions out. For many children with ASD, art allows them to process their world in a way that is unrestricted, accommodating and sensory-stimulating all at the same time.

Some studies have shown that exposure to creative arts interventions can provide significant benefits to children on the autism spectrum.

Regular sessions can help children control their emotions and build self-assurance. It helps them develop gross and fine motor skills, as they work with different materials and textures — such as paint, pencils, markers, clay and more.

In addition, engaging in artistic activities can encourage children with autism to explore the world around them in new ways. This helps to foster confidence and curiosity.

How Can Art Therapy Be Used for Children with Autism?

Art therapy has proven to be beneficial for children with autism. It is something that can be integrated into an all-encompassing treatment plan such as applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy) to teach many different skills.

As a science-based approach to learning and behavior, ABA therapy seeks to help children build the social, communication and daily life skills with which they typically struggle. It also helps children with autism modify certain behaviors, teaching them replacement behaviors for things such as aggression or self-injurious behaviors.

There are many different strategies and tools that therapists will use to administer ABA therapy to their patients. All require repetition and positive reinforcement to help motivate children with ASD to engage and learn.

Regardless of the strategy being used, much of ABA therapy is play-based. This helps children become more engaged and interested in the therapy, while teaching valuable lessons that help them live more independently.

Artistic activities can certainly be integrated into the treatment plan as well, since they are great ways to encourage children with autism to express themselves. It also falls perfectly in line with overarching goals that ABA therapy has — to help children better manage their emotions, improve their social interaction and communication skills, and be creative.

Benefits of Art Therapy for Children with Autism

Blue Gems ABA Helps Children with ASD Grow

Art therapy has proven to provide many benefits for children with ASD. As many children with autism are visual thinkers, art is a natural way for them to express themselves, build self-confidence, be creative and explore the world around them.

At Blue Gems ABA, we craft personalized ABA therapy plans for every patient we serve, integrating strategies such as artistic activities where appropriate. By targeting all treatment plans to the unique strengths and challenges of each individual patient, we are better able to help support them in the ways they need.

To learn more, please contact us today.