We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Mental

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Picture Therapy?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 13,203
Share

Picture therapy is the use of visual prompts in treatments like speech, psychological, or occupational therapy programs. The therapist can integrate the use of visual communication and analysis of images into the program. She must tailor this to the patient's needs to provide the most complete and appropriate therapy possible. Patients with an interest in picture therapy can get information about practitioners in their areas through professional organizations, trade publications, and resources like hospital referral programs.

In speech therapy, picture therapy can be part of an augmentative communication program to help a nonverbal patient communicate. Patients who cannot speak, use sign language, or write may have difficulty communicating, and picture therapy can be beneficial for them. The patient can use a communication board or flashcard set with printed images to convey information and can also draw to express herself. This can help the patient achieve more independence and the ability to engage with the people around her more easily.

Psychotherapists use picture therapy with patients of all ages, in a wide variety of ways. Some ask patients to respond to images, while others may have patients produce images as part of their therapy. While drawing in a clinical setting is a common approach, the therapist can also give patients homework, like asking them to take photographs and bring in prints or digital files. The therapist can use the themes in the images to learn more about the patient's psychological issues, and the pictures can also serve as a medium of communication. A patient may be able to draw or photograph things he cannot express in other ways.

Physical and occupational therapists can also use picture therapy. They may use images to model posture, movements, and other physical activities for their patients, and can also use imagery and visualization to help their patients focus on their goals. Patients may also express themselves visually; a patient could use drawings to express pain or discomfort or to illustrate goals she wants to achieve, such as being able to ride a bicycle. For patients with cognitive impairments that may make it hard to speak or understand speech, the ability to communicate directly through the use of images can be very useful.

Numerous professional organizations offer training and certification to practitioners who want to use picture therapy in their work. In a training program, health care providers will learn about different approaches they can use and can develop their own techniques for working effectively with patients. Certified practitioners have access to benefits like listings in directories and copies of trade publications they can use to keep up with developments in their field.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a The Health Board researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-picture-therapy.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.