Individuals with psychosocial issues very often are offered with art therapy as a type of treatment in which the use of art materials, the process of creating in the presence and guidance of an art therapist, and the produced artwork are all thought to help with the reduction of psychosocial problems.

Art therapists use different orientations and theories, such as psychodynamic; humanistic (phenomenological, gestalt, person-centered), psychoeducational (behavioral, cognitive–behavioral, developmental), systemic (family and group therapy), as well as integrative and eclectic techniques are used by art therapists.

However, art therapists have a wide range of personal preferences and orientations. Through both contact with the therapist and art materials in a joyful and safe atmosphere, the art therapist can assist good transformation in psychological difficulties. Fundamental principles in AT for children and adolescents are that visual image-making is an important aspect of the natural learning process and that the children and adolescents, in the presence of the art therapist, can get in touch with feelings that otherwise cannot easily be expressed in words.