ABSTRACT
In order to begin synthesizing what one knows about art and about therapy, it helps to be clear about one's identity as an art therapist. This is as necessary for private work with patients as it is for public interchange with colleagues. Since art therapy is itself a hybrid discipline, it is superficially similar to a wide variety of other fields, from art education to play therapy to occupational, recreational, and activity therapy. Since all of these may involve the use of art materials by individuals or groups, they can look strikingly alike to the naive observer. Even the clinician's behavior may be similar, whether helping someone to use
materials appropriately or asking questions about process or product. Nevertheless, art therapy is different from all of the above, despite some overlapping areas with each.
