ABSTRACT
In this chapter, Anna Sheather explores how art has been used by human beings to communicate their perspectives and place in the world for many thousands of years, from our ancient ancestors’ cave art through to the present day and social media.
Anna Sheather then looks at how art has become a powerful means of communicating in the helping professions, beginning in the nineteenth century, when the idea emerged that using visual imagery and art could help patients communicate in a way that aided healing and achieved resolution. This led to the emergence of art therapy in 1940s and its continuing growth today.
Anna Sheather explains that coaching, as a helping profession, experiences similar scenarios with clients to art therapists and this is one of the reasons why art has an important place in coaching. Art provides the coach and client with a powerful form of communication that enables the client to connect to a deeper part of themself, leading to insights and shifts in perspective, increasing personal development, growth and fulfilment.
The chapter closes with how neuroscience is starting to give insights into how and why using art to communicate can be so powerful.
