therapeutic art for all

I am very interesred in art as a therapeutic activity, and feel that there should be more awareness of its value in schools; at a certain point in art education, children become self-critical, and the emphasis that teachers place on ability and skill overrides the pure, instinctual mark - making that is so important for our personal growth. Students who are not blessed with 'natural skill' in drawing will often give up, and find no further enjoyment from art because they "can't draw". Creativity and the benefits of creativity should be available to all, surely school is the place to start? What if all art teachers had to attend a short course in art therapy so that they were made aware of these issues and could allow pupils free self-expression without such an emphasis on skill, aesthetics and technique (of course these are important, but not for everyone).... Responses please, this is my dissertation subject!

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