Art Therapy
What is Art Therapy?
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Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy, in which clients, facilitated by an art therapist, use the creative process of making art to explore their feelings. It involves the use of creative techniques such as drawing, painting, collage, coloring, or sculpting to help people express themselves artistically and examine the psychological and emotional undertones in their art.
With the guidance of a credentialed art therapist, clients can "decode" the nonverbal messages, symbols, and metaphors often found in these art forms, which should lead to a better understanding of their feelings and behavior so they can move on to resolve deeper issues.
Who can avail it?
Art therapy can be availed by a large spectrum of people.
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Those with mental health problems: It has been recommended by certain institutes that art therapy can benefit those with schizophrenia and other related conditions.
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Those with learning difficulties: Art Therapy can be great for people with learning difficulties who may find it hard to verbalize their feelings.
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Those with dementia: When you are using the creative part of your brain this can help with stress levels and restore a sense of personal identity, which those with dementia may be finding hard to keep.
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Those on the autistic spectrum: Creative art can help to distract and calm people down, as well as help improve communication skills.
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Those in the justice system: Prisoners are often asked use art therapy to help with their feelings in a healthy way.
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Those with a chronic/terminal illness: As mentioned before, art therapy can help with expressing feelings and it can also help patients to regain their sense of control and freedom.
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Those who find it difficult to express their feelings: People who find this hard can use art therapy to show their emotions without too much verbal communication.
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Those who want to use it as a stress buster: Apart from having medically claimed therapeutic characteristics, people without any mental illness can also use it as a method to release stress and tension.
What are the types of Art Therapy?
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Painting: This art therapy technique is probably the most limitless. Painting can give a great sense of freedom and allows the individual to paint whatever they want.
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Collaging: Refers to the process of making artwork out of small cut or torn pieces of paper and pictures in ways that inspire the individual and helps them express their feelings and thoughts.
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Digital Art: As times are changing now, methods of therapy need new ways to keep up with it. Digital art is a technique where the individual uses the computer to make their art. This could be electronically designing a collage or using a drawing software to make the illustrations.
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Photography: For those who maybe are not as keen on drawing and painting as others, photography can be a great outlet. Therapist also help in finding the individual's forte in photography.
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Textiles: Using textiles in art therapy can be when the individual either uses them as toys and puppets or if they have physical difficulties with using art suppliers due to motor skills, they can use this technique.
How does Art Therapy help?
Art therapy helps children, adolescents, and adults explore their emotions, improve self-esteem, manage addictions, relieve stress, improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, and cope with a physical illness or disability. Art therapists work with individuals, couples, and groups in a variety of settings, including private counseling, hospitals, wellness centers, correctional institutions, senior centers, and other community organizations. No artistic talent is necessary for art therapy to succeed, because the therapeutic process is not about the artistic value of the work, but rather about finding associations between the creative choices made and a client's inner life. The artwork can be used as a springboard for reawakening memories and telling stories that may reveal messages and beliefs from the unconscious mind.
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Mental health has been an increasingly popular topic of conversation recently, and rightfully so. With this website we aim to familiarise the general audience with the basics of mental health. This includes basic disorders, recovery and how one should go about the nooks and crooks of mental health, all under one URL.