The Role of Art Therapy in the Promotion of Mental, Physical Health, and Well-Being

Dear Colleagues,

Art therapy encompasses the use of diverse expressive modalities, commonly identified—perhaps not entirely accurately, but effectively—with the term “arts,” such as painting, sculpture, music, dance, theatre, and creative writing. These are aimed at fostering self-awareness and supporting human flourishing, psychological, and physical well-being. Central to these practices is the ability to enable individuals to access and elaborate their internal experiences through symbolic, verbal, and non-verbal forms of communication.

The process of shaping materials, using form, colour, music, movements, or employing other expressive means, activates intrinsic personal resources and facilitates contact with one’s inner world. For many individuals, reflecting upon a drawing, a musical piece, or a dance movement may prove more accessible and easier than speaking directly about oneself. In this sense, art serves as a mediating tool that allows for meaning to be attributed to subjective experience when verbal language is limited or insufficient.

Art therapy may be conceptualized as the process of giving form to what is otherwise formless. This transformation is enabled by an appropriate setting, which includes both the context and the relational dynamics within the group. A growing field of research involves investigating the therapeutic impact of engaging with visual art—especially in museums and cultural contexts. Several studies indicate that viewing and talking about art can enhance well-being at emotional, social, behavioural, and physiological levels. Artwork can function as reflective surface in which individuals recognize aspects of themselves, thereby promoting processes of self-awareness. The mechanisms underlying these benefits appear to include cognitive activation, aesthetic pleasure, critical thinking, emotional resonance, and opportunities for social sharing and inclusion.

Given this background, we welcome empirical and theoretical contributions on how different forms of art—visual arts, music, dance, theatre, literature, photography, cinema, and others—can promote mental, physical health, and well-being. Given the need for robust scientific evidence, we particularly encourage studies that rigorously examine the mechanisms and effectiveness of art-based interventions in clinical and non-clinical settings.

Prof. Dr. Stefano Mastandrea
Guest Editor

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