From ancient Egypt to today, art has always been prioritized among Egyptians. Whether to represent belief or culture, or as a form expression, art dictates a special place in their lives. With the emergence of talks about the importance of mental health, many began to look at different ways to invest in the right form of therapy. Art therapy is one of the less-popular forms of therapy in Egypt. According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy integrates mental health and human services and enriches people’s lives through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship. In a Q&A session with Egyptian-American Art Therapist, Farida Ihab, we explore misconceptions surrounding art therapy, the process behind it, and her work in Egypt. With a BA in Psychology and Philosophy from York University in Toronto, Canada, and a MA in Art Therapy and Creativity Development from Pratt Institute inNew York, Ihab relocated to Cairo and has been working as an art therapist for six years. Can you take us through the process of an art therapy session? I think of the art therapy session as time…
