Adult coloring books are the rage. In the last few months the American Art Therapy Association has received many media inquires about the value of coloring books for adults as a self-care hobby for stress management. Some consumers and media have asked us about the difference between at-home coloring or for that matter any engagement with art on a private basis, and the art therapy profession. They are indeed separate topics with one commonality, that art making in and of itself is personally rewarding and potentially therapeutic. The American Art Therapy Association supports the use of coloring books for pleasure and self-care, however these uses should not be confused with the delivery of professional art therapy services, during which a client engages with a credentialed art therapist.
