FEATURES OF ART THERAPY

Art therapy is the use of art in the treatment of addiction and mental health problems. During art therapy, there is no need to use verbal communication. Individuals are afforded the opportunity to use any medium they prefer.

Addiction and mental health problems are powerful entities and they have the capacity to induce trauma and a host of other delicate features.

The good side to this is, art therapy has proved to be effective in handling such issues associated with addiction and mental health problems.

Art therapy assists the patient to accept the happenings of the past and shape the future to be better. Patients are encouraged to leave what is behind and focus on their lives ahead of them.

The fact is, people are known to cling on to past hurtful events without making attempts to break free from those painful emotions.

Hence, with art therapy you are able to explain how you feel and you are aided in channeling your thoughts to do productive things.

Visual and Fine art is one of the major features of art therapy. Individuals are expected to take part in activities like: Painting, drawing, sculpting and paper art. During this type of art, the individual needs to put on his creative cap to produce a wonderful result.

Then, there is performing arts. Here, the individual would have to be a music artist, dancer, actor or an instrumentalist. During this type of art, the individual is expected to integrate more physical action.

Another proficient type of art is applied arts. People who opt for this are expected to take part in activities like cooking, sewing, jewelry making and a host of others.

The last major category is Literature. Individuals here participate in the act and art of creative writing. For those who do not know how to go about this, they are assisted by a skilled instructor.

All the forms of art therapy listed above are quintessential in helping an individual defeat addiction and mental health problems. They require patience to learn, implement and execute.  

THE BENEFITS OF ART THERAPY

Art therapy simply refers to treatment with art. Commonly, art therapy is used to treat abuse, addiction and mental health problems.

Art therapy is a healing practice where clients are supervised by an instructor, who is also called an art therapist. The individual uses a creative pattern and process, artwork and media to expatiate their feelings and emotions.

Also, art therapy is essential in helping people resolve emotional conflicts. It also aids people in improving themselves and controlling their behaviors and other aspects of their lives.

Art therapy helps people to develop social skills, it comes in handy for people who do not know how to explore this aspect of their lives.

With social skills, reality orientation is enhanced and your self-esteem increases in the process. Some people who have experienced severe forms of pain have been better with art therapy.

Now, the beauty of art therapy is, patients are aided in the expression of their emotions through art. Most times, they are not able to talk because of the grief.

For those who can talk, they are unable to properly articulate how they feel. So, they would end up mumbling words together that do not have much meaning.

So, art therapists help their patients to take part in art therapy practices like drawing, sketching and painting.

In post-treatment recovery, art therapy also comes in handy. There are diverse resources that are used in post-treatment recovery to help the individual get back on his feet.

For people who have identity issues, those who do not know what they are meant to do, art therapy is an avenue to discover yourself. In due time, you will know the major reason for any type of problem plaguing you.

During art therapy, you will be given a project to carry out. When they are completed, there is this feeling of accomplishment that you feel, and this spurs you on to do more. With this, you are able to face other real-life experiences after rehab.