Introduction: Art Therapy
Since ancient times, all cultures and religions have turned to various forms of creative "healing" to relieve stress. One such form is art therapy.
Art therapy has been around since the 1940s. The core principle of art therapy was developed "to help the suffering person to be healed of their inner thoughts, feelings, and experiences" through creative expression.
Today this art therapy is often combined with talk therapy to help people deal with illnesses, stress, and emotions.
Let us know what is art therapy and what are the benefits of art therapy?
What is art therapy ?
This type of therapy uses art as a medium of communication and allows people to express and explore their thoughts and feelings. You don't even need to be very artistic or creatively talented to take part in this therapy.
The British Association of Art Therapists calls art therapy "a form of psychotherapy that uses the art media as the primary medium of expression and communication."
The American Art Therapy Association defines art therapy as: "an integrated mental health and human services profession that engages the lives of individuals, families, and communities with active art-making, creative processes, applied psychological theory, and human interaction within a psychotherapeutic relationship." enriches through experience".
Art therapy is a medical discipline that can be defined as the application of the visual arts. This type of therapy technique is one you can use while working with a therapist or coach, as well as something you can do at home or in a group class.
What are the Different Types of Art Therapy? Types of art therapy include:
- Picture: Painting can give you a great sense of freedom, being able to paint what you want. You can explore your feelings and draw whatever comes to your mind, expressing your feelings and your creative side.
- Collaging: Collaging is where you cut and paste pictures that inspire you or express your feelings and put them all together. It can really give you a great sense of freedom and help you explore your creative side.
- Digital art: As times are changing, we need new technologies to keep up with it. Digital art is where you use a computer to create your art. It can design a collage electronically or use a drawing software to create your drawings.
- Photography: For those who might not be as keen on drawing and painting as others, photography can be a great way to go.You can take pictures of many different things, such as things you are grateful for, people you love, or just things that you find beautiful and pleasing. Then, your art therapist can help you figure out which photography might be best for you.
- Fabric: Use of textiles provides softness which can help in providing comfort for you. It can be a great way to express yourself.
- Sculpture with clay
- Card making
- Musical treatment
There are endless ways to practice art therapy , but most importantly, find it relaxing and inspiring.
Art therapy requires certification, training, and sometimes licensing (depending on the location). Today it is used in many different places, including: mental health facilities, hospitals, schools, shelters, private hospitals, rehab centers.
Uses of art therapy
The main uses of art therapy include children, adolescents, adults, elderly adults, groups, families, the elderly and people with chronic health problems.
Art therapy can help people deal with conditions such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trauma / PTSD
- Fear
- Chronic pain
- Addictions
- Attention disorders
- Grief and loss
- Madness
- Eating disorders
- Schizophrenia - a type of mental disorder
Below are just a few of the many benefits of art therapy, supported by recent research:
1. Art therapy helps relieve stress
When you're using the creative part of your brain, it can help with stress levels and restore a sense of personal identity, which can be hard for people with dementia to keep.
Studies show that art therapy can help people cope with chronic stress, depression, and anxiety and can help with the process of expressing their feelings . Being creative can also increase self-esteem, a sense of control, and self-achievement, and can help people take a positive view of their life experiences.
Through art therapy, the amount of dopamine in the brain increases, due to which the mood is felt. Dopamine is associated with feelings of excitement and pleasure, and it rises in the brain when we are engaged in something pleasant and attention-grabbing.
2. Art therapy to help people cope with trauma
Art therapists often encourage patients to use "free-form" art expressions to express their feelings, feelings that cannot be spoken with words.
In people with a history of trauma/PTSD, art therapy is recommended. Shown to improve mood and enhance skills, promote relaxation, promote healthy relationships, and help reduce disruptive behaviors and attitudes.
Creative arts can help distract and calm people, as well as help improve communication skills.
3. Art Therapy Enhances the Artistic Appearance
Give your mind a break by doing something creative and finding ways to express yourself artistically, and practice mindfulness, or presence/awareness.
You pay full attention to what you are doing, using all of your senses to notice how your body is feeling, rather than getting bogged down in your thoughts.
4. Art Therapy Supports Healthy Relationships With Others
When art therapy is done in a group, it helps to build healthy relationships with other people and gain support. Art therapy has been shown to be effective in helping people with depression, the elderly, school children, and the elderly.
Not only can it help fight depression and loneliness, but it has also been shown to increase empathy and acceptance of others.
5. Art Therapy Develops Mental Skills
Art therapy is used by some occupational therapists to help develop their patients' cognitive and sensitization functions, hand-eye coordination, fine and gross motor skills, and finger dexterity and movement.
It has been recommended by some institutions that art therapy may benefit people suffering from schizophrenia and other related conditions.
6. Art Therapy May Improve and Help Pain
The American Cancer Society (ACS) considers art therapy to be a complementary and alternative medicine that can help people recover from serious illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, chronic pain, and behavioral problems.
According to the ACS, Some possible uses of art therapy include:
- Reducing anxiety levels in cancer survivors
- Improvement in recovery time from treatment
- Improve speaking and social cohesion
- and natural pain control
7. Art therapy is a boon for sufferers with learning difficulties
Art therapy can be great for people with learning difficulties who may find it difficult to verbalize their feelings.
8. Helpful in the justice system
Prisoners are often told to use art therapy to help them with their emotions in a healthy way.
9. Those with chronic/terminal illness
As mentioned earlier, art therapy can help express feelings and it can also help patients regain a sense of control and independence. Those who find it difficult to express their feelings. People who find this difficult can use art therapy to show their feelings without much verbal communication.
Precautions
Although this therapy has been practiced for many decades, there is still a lack of well-controlled studies demonstrating its effectiveness in general. compared to other forms of psychotherapy.
It seems that a patient's willingness to try art therapy and his or her attitude is critical to the outcome.
How Art Therapy Works
Art therapy, being creative can help people discover important insights about themselves and increase their sense of well-being and self-esteem.
Some of the primary ways that art therapy helps patients relieve symptoms are:
- Develop self-awareness and insight
- Discovering repressed/hidden feelings
- Addressing unresolved emotional conflict and trauma
- Improve communication, self-expression and social skills
- Increased self-esteem, self-reliance and personal independence
- Maintaining identity (as opposed to being defined by a disease or trauma)
- Reduction in negative emotions and stress and increase in positive emotions
conclusion
- Art therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses creative expression to improve the well-being of both mental and physical health.
- Art therapy Techniques include painting, sketching, collage making, sculpting with clay, and mosaics.
- The session can allow for a "free flow" of emotion, acting as a release. This can be especially helpful for unlocking hidden/repressed feelings because this technique can involve nonverbal communication of difficult feelings that may be difficult to understand or share.
- Benefits of art therapy may include reduced stress/anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms, chronic pain, low self-esteem, and other symptoms.
Disclaimer: The Fittofitter.com with article, commentaries, latest news, advice, and reviews covering the world of good health and long life. the material in this site provided for personal, non commercial, educational and informational purpose only and does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement with respect to any company or product. you agree that we have no liability for any damamge. we are not liable for any consequential, incidental, indirect, or special damage. You Indemnify us for claims caused by you. you should seek the advice of a professional regarding your particular situation.
