ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES TO THE DEFINING OF ART THERAPY

Introduction. Nowadays there is an increasing interest in art therapy as a method of curing with the help of creativity in modern society. Currently, art therapy is a direction of modern psychotherapy. It is rapidly developing and becoming increasingly popular in the professional environment both abroad and in Ukraine. This method is used to have a therapeutic effect on the individual and solve diagnostic, corrective, and psychoprophylactic tasks. The transformation of social, political, economic, cultural and information spheres mainly stimulate the development of art-therapeutic technologies of pedagogical, social and psychological direction. It is essential to note the significant preventive, corrective and educational effects of art therapy. Increasingly, art technologies can be used in the educational process at various levels of education, including as a preventive measure for a healthy worldview and lifestyle.Purpose. The article aims to analyze the main scientific approaches to the scientists' definition of the concept of «art therapy». Methods. The following theoretical methods were used: analysis and generalization of scientific literature, comparison, synthesis, systematization and generalization of the received information. Results. Consequently, the use of art technologies in professional training and assistance in the professional development of the intending specialists allows students to reflect on the process of mastering skills, analyzing their attributes and diagnosing the level of development of professional self-awareness and its components. The individuality of each student manifests itself openly, spontaneously, and naturally. The intending specialist's professional qualities and features are objectified in the creative atmosphere of art therapy work. Originality. The state art therapy has been considered in the works of O. Voznesenska, O. Miedviedieva. Famous researchers N. Klymenyuk, I. Рiatnytska-Рozdniakova, and O. Soroka highlighted art-therapeutic possibilities of visual arts in the social sphere. Studies by I. Dmitrieva, U. Dutchak, and so on are devoted to the influence of the psychocorrective and psychotherapeutic potential of art and creative activity on harmonious student development. From the perspective of art-therapeutic influence, there are significant studies, which focus on professional reflection as a factor in the self-improvement of the future teacher's personality. However, scientists interpret the term «art therapy» differently, so the issue has further prospects for its analysis. Conclusion. Art therapy accurately reflects the sense of therapy, which can be implemented in the future and corresponds to the postmodern approach in culture, art and science. Art therapy in Ukraine is at the stage of formation. Nowadays, we should not expect clarity and uniqueness from this direction of therapy, because art, creative work, and fantasy are always a space of mystery and incomprehensibility at all times. The development of art therapy in Ukraine is characterized by folk creativity, multimodality, desire for new technologies, combining art activity and psychotherapeutic forms of work, and predominant development in the social sphere and education. Prospects for further research are the issue of using art therapy technologies by future psychologists in their professional activity.