Art therapy is when art techniques, such as painting or drawing, are used by patients as a form of therapy. It is a type of therapy that is commonly used among the mentally ill, physically ill, and abuse victims. Art therapists work by combining theories that are generally used in psychology and art in order to help patients cope with the traumatic events that they deal with, as well as the stressors that they face in every day life. There are a number of different benefits of art therapy. Here are just a few.
Hidden Feelings Surface
Many people who seek art therapy often have hidden feelings that they do not normally feel comfortable talking about or may not even be aware of. Art therapy is known to be one of the best ways to help someone realize something about themselves. Art therapists are also able to analyze the artwork that is done by autistic children, schizophrenic patients, and other people who have mental illnesses.
Helps Reduce Stress
Everyone has their own method of releasing stress. Some people find relief through smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, or using a tanning bed. One of the main benefits of art therapy is that it can help reduce stress levels. The reason is because drawing and painting are known to be some of the best ways to relieve your problems with stress.
A Sense of Accomplishment
Anyone who puts a lot of effort into their artwork is bound to feel a sense of accomplishment when they are done. Whether you are drawing or painting, it is likely that the artwork that you produce through art therapy is likely to make you feel happy about yourself. This means that art therapy may be a good idea for those who have really low self esteem and have not found any other talents.
Improves Physical Health
There are many people with serious physical conditions who benefit from art therapy. People who are paralyzed, for example, may benefit from art therapy. Cancer patients have also been known to use art therapy to reduce stress and, ultimately, feel better about themselves.
Many people are under the impression that you will need to see an art therapist in order to benefit from this type of therapy. Art therapy is something that you can do on your own time. Any time that you are feeling very stressed and want to release some of your stress or anger out, why not take out a piece of paper and some colored pencils? All that you need to do is draw the first thing that comes to mind. It is likely that you may learn a little bit about yourself by doing this. You will also probably feel a lot of stress relief and a sense of accomplishment.
While all creative endeavors can be therapeutic, it is important to recognize that art therapists are trained to help people deal with the difficult emotions and memories that sometimes arise in the art-making process. Art therapists are also familiar with what types of art materials may aid a person in feeling more relaxed, contained, and safe, as opposed to art materials that may lead to feeling more “undone” and upset. Yes, people can create art on their own and reap some therapeutic benefits, but it isn’t truly art therapy unless they are seeing an art therapist who has been trained in both counseling psychology and the use of art as a therapeutic modality.
Comment by Ann — September 14, 2009 @ 9:40 pm