This study aimed to report the application of art therapy in daily practice, taking as object the experience developed in one of the therapeutic groups of the Center for Psychosocial Care of the Regional Executive Secretary III, that is a governmental institution of the city of Fortaleza that works in partnership with the Federal University of Ceara, using therapeutic devices in the field of mental health; besides that, promotes awareness and encouragement of other professionals and artists to have experiences of this nature. Thus, the actions taken were intended to: 1) maximize and give credit to the singular forms of the process of free creation of users, 2) improve self-esteem, 3) obtain a better emotional balance, and 4) minimize the negative effects of mental illness. The group has been appropriating of the languages of art, like painting, sculpture and the actions of production of free artistic expression, obtaining, thus, support and involvement of participants in the process, allowing changes in the fields of: affection, interpersonal and relationship.
Mental health; Art therapy; Creativity