We often find it difficult to be aware of our emotions. To this one can object: “What, if not emotions, break out of us with scandals and screams?!” This means that it is worth clarifying: to reveal exactly your deep experiences, and not to blame the other person for all the failures of communication. Understand yourself, live through states, realize ways to resolve the conflict instead of temporarily suppressing it. Imagine that you are given the opportunity to put on a mask, dress up in the costume of an invented character, draw your feeling, talk about the hero of the book, seeing yourself in him. Art therapy offers such ways of working on oneself. Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Frantskevich, a practical psychologist at the SELF center, told us how this happens. What is the meaning of the concept of “art therapy”? The word “therapy” is often reacted to as a medical term. In this case, it is worth understanding its meaning through a literal translation from Greek: “to be nearby,” “to pay attention.” In art therapy, this happens through art and expression. In psychology, art methods are tools that help to experience feelings, if it hurts to talk about them, you can draw, become aware of the various psychological states of an adult or child. For example, a person depicts his fear in a picture: what it is about, what or who causes it. Next, a professional dialogue with a psychologist is connected, and changes occur in life. In the process of art therapy, a person only engages in artistic creativity or also perceives the creativity of another? These are different facets of art therapy, equally significant. When I look at an artist's painting, my attention focuses on something. If I turn to my inner state, I will notice that something is happening to me: experiencing certain feelings, forming various images. The psychologist, noticing this, helps the person realize how this relates to his life. What difficulties can be overcome with the help of art therapy? Art therapy works with various human difficulties in the emotional sphere: aggression, uncertainty, shame, guilt. A state of grief, addiction. Allows self-realization. Gradually learn more about your deep processes. Understand relationships with others, build necessary connections or interrupt unnecessary ones. Gain experience of personal changes. Is art therapy used as an independent work tool? No. A pen cannot write on its own; it must be held in the hand. So does art therapy. It is included in various psychological structures: psychoanalysis, Gestalt psychology. There are different types of art therapy: fairy tale therapy, music therapy, bibliotherapy, sand phototherapy, dance movement therapy. Each direction uses its own techniques: drawing, collage, writing stories, dance. What happens, for example, in the process of fairy tale therapy? Fairytale therapy works uniquely with both children and adults. One technique goes like this: a group of people are asked to choose three famous fairy tales. Next - decide on the character and role. The very choice of a person says something. Then it is proposed to create your own fairy tale with the participation of all the heroes and play it. After that we talk. I ask: “How did you feel in the role of Baba Yaga, for example?” A man speaks about his inner experiences: “When I was in the role of Baba Yaga, I didn’t want to be scary, but I wanted to have power.” I can ask: “How are you doing with this in your life?” The answer may be given: “I get angry when there is little power in my hands.” Art therapy, in a sense, helps to distance oneself from one’s feelings, using an image, a mask. It can be easier to speak on behalf of a fictional character than to speak on behalf of yourself. This helps to know oneself, one’s place in the world of people. Can a person, without the help of a specialist, understand the psychological meaning of his drawing? Is self-therapy possible? Help from a psychologist is desirable. A professionally structured dialogue directs a person’s thinking in the right direction and helps to avoid common interpretations. Yes, if you feel bad and draw this state (fears, uncertainty, anger and others) - this is self-therapy. So you"