All About Art Therapy

Art therapy is the form of psychotherapy which allows the patient to express their feelings and emotions without using words, through art. There are many types of art therapy, almost as many as the art mediums itself! You could be asked to paint, sculpt, use clay, engrave and all of that would be considered art therapy, provided the main focus is on the issue at hand. The main purpose of art therapy is "healing" and with the tools that it provides, millions of people have benefited from this type of psychotherapy.

Lowers Stress Emotion Processing Deep Focus Many individuals who seek art therapy are often faced with severe stress that affects their lifestyle on a daily basis. Art therapy helps release those emotions and helps finding healthy coping mechanisms when dealing with the overwhelming amount of stress. Emotions can get messy and we do not often know what is the best way to let them out or restrain them. Art therapy helps deal with the emotional baggage and find a better way to approach them. When dealing with trauma or mental disorders, it is often hard to find the root of the issue. Art therapy allows a patient to find the cause of the problem and focus on reframing.

Who Is Art Therapy For?

Art therapy may be an excellent fit for those who find it hard to find words to describe their concern. In most of the cases, the reason for lack of the ability to verbalize a concern is trauma and/or severe stress and/or mental/physical disorders. When a patient is in the middle of their healing journey, art therapy allows to engage the creative part of the brain and not only allows for a relief of emotions but reduces stress and calms a patient down. This is why many correctional facilities and psychiatric units use art therapy as a way to recharge and refocus the patient's mind. Here is a brief list of those who may benefit from art therapy: Adults and teenagers, who are experiencing severe stress People with brain injury Children who may experience behavioral problems Children and young adults with learning disabilities Bereavement Children and adults who may have experienced psychological trauma Mental and physical disorders What disorders can be maintained with art therapy? Art therapy can help with the variety of mental disorders. Most common illnesses that art therapy helps prevent or sustain are Eating Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety Disorder and Depression. There is one common ground for all of the listed above disorders, which is the presence of inner conflict that leads to lack of communication with others and yourself. Art therapy helps a patient guide through the issue and slowly express the root of the inner conflict.

Types of Art Therapy

Any form of visual art can be implemented into art therapy. Let's focus on the most popular ones: Painting Painting is probably the first thing that comes to mind, when we think about art therapy. It is an excellent way to express one's emotions and make a beautiful piece on canvas. Unlike drawing, the materials used for painting therapy are more fluid, which is why it is not recommended for patients who struggle with low-self esteem and perfectionism, as dwelling on minor details or lack of skill can lead to spiraling and overwhelming anxiety. Painting usually works for children and young adults and shows most improvement in these specific age categories. Drawing Similar to painting, drawing can increase attention to details and lower the stress level in patience, who struggle with disorders such as PTSD and EDs. Materials that are often used are pencil, charcoal, crayons and usually performs on a regular paper. It is one of the most simple, yet effective methods of art therapy, as the patient does not feel overwhelmed with the amount of fluid texture of the materials and allows to tell a story rather than focus on making an artwork. Sculpture Sculpture is a very valid and useful technique in art therapy, as it teaches the patient about "reframing." Reframing is a psychological term, used to explain that each problem can seem different from another point of view. Essentially, it unravels a positive view on an issue and helps in finding the solution. Aside from that, working with clay or paper mache is a great grounding exercise, as constantly touching a different texture allows for the sensors in the brain to refocus from the issue at hand. It also gives a sense of stability and control, which is crucial for those who are going through a crisis and feel a never-ending chaos in their lives, due to a mental or physical disorder. Collage Another fun and resourceful way to work through a trauma is collage-making. Similar to sculpting, collage helps with the sense of control that the patient may lack due to a mental illness or life circumstances. This activity literally helps a client to organize their thoughts and create a vivid picture of the problem which leads to finding a solution. Writing Even though some people do not view writing as a form of art, it could be a great creative outlet when it comes in the forms of journaling or story telling. When a patient is expressing their feelings through written words, it allows the thought process to be more structured when dealing with trauma or severe stress. This art therapy method commonly needs a simple pen and a piece of paper, but the client has creative freedom to use any materials or even illustrate in their journal, combining both drawing and writing techniques. Photography Most of the time, the photography method is used for patients who are in the process of overcoming symptoms of PTSD, as it helps restore memory for those who suffered from traumatic events that caused their brain to shut off any reminders of the unpleasant experience. Photography can be transformed into a storyboard which will be used to reframe and find an alternative, more positive perspective. Clients are encouraged to use any form of photography and can capture the desired moments on their cellphones and digital or film cameras. Textile This method is commonly used with children through soft fabrics or even stuffed animals. Working with textile means adding a sensory element to therapy, which helps in gaining a level of comfort and trust between the patient and themselves. Any variations from sewing to tie-dyeing a fabric is welcome in the textile art therapy and have benefitted millions of people. Digital Last but not least, digital art can come in handy when dealing with trauma or stress, etc. It is the newest form of art therapy and grasps its focus on the youngest generation that has been born when the Internet existed. It collaborates elements of photography, video editing, digital photo-editing, and many more. Digital mediums are well-known to integrate the idea of storytelling which is exactly the purpose of digital art therapy - sharing your story and understanding what coping mechanisms can be applied.

Type Of Art Therapy: Painting Type Of Art Therapy: Drawing Typee of Art Therapy: Writing

Art Therapy and Neuroscience: How Does Art Affect Our Brain?

It is important to remember that when dealing with unprocessed emotions and trauma, art therapy can enhance many uncomfortable and painful feelings, associated with the main concern. However, art in all of its forms tends to help our brain to slowly but surely work through the triggers, unpleasant memories and increase the mood. Even by observing art, the level of serotonin in our brain will be increased. The study has shown that art therapy impacts brain wave patterns, emotions and the nervous system. When artworks of famous painters were shown to the group of people at the University College London, there was a discovery that the blood flow of those who were observing art and considered it "beautiful" increased by 10%. That leads to a conclusion that our brain and what we view as art are intertwined and have shown a significant effect on human behavior. Art therapy is a great way to release stress or deal with much complicated life events, trauma, loss, and mental/physical disorders, however it is a hard process by which the patient may feel discouraged at the beginning, yet relieved at the end.

Additional Resources

Found this article interesting? Click here to learn more about ways art affects our health. Click here to learn more about Art Therapy from one of our articles. Click here to learn more about various art movements.

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