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Activities in Art Therapy

Pablo Picasso had notably observed and exclaimed that “Art washes away from the soul, the dust of everyday life”.

The statement in simple terms explains how art therapy rid persons of every horrid emotional upheaval through artistic processes. Art has moved beyond the realm of paintings hanging on the wall to a form of effective treatment. 

The following are the various activities that an individual may carry out in the process and sessions of art therapy: 

  • Draw or paint your emotions: Observing that the focus is not on expertise, art therapy requires the patient to use different colors on a canvas to represent their emotions.
  • Use color to create an emotional wheel: Alternatively, the patient may be given all colors and required to create an emotional wheel. Usually, the patient uses the colors that represent the intensity of their emotions in order of how intense they currently are.
  • Use line art to demonstrate how you are feeling: 

Line art gives the therapist an idea of the patient’s feelings. Sometimes, the patient may draw a straight line, curvy line, or a zigzag to show how their emotions are all over the place. 

  • Attach a drawing or message to a balloon: This is a psychological process leading to the patient letting go of their most intense feelings.
  • Paint to music: This activity solely focuses on the concentration and attention span of the patient.
  • Finger paint: Often, this activity is considered child play. However, adults in therapy sessions are often required to be carefree and mess their fingers up to paint.
  • Make a Mandala: In art therapy, the patient uses sand or any choice meditative tool to loosen up by making a mandala.
  • Draw in the dark: The goal is to get the patient to make a representation of how they feel and not to necessarily make a perfect creative artwork. The patient may then be required to paint in the dark to shift their attention away from perfection. 

Other activities in art therapy sessions involve using color blocks, drawing something huge, and a host of other therapeutic activities to achieve stated therapy objectives.

What to Expect in Art Therapy

As a general rule, art therapy utilizes a variety of art materials and processes. The materials for the whole therapy session usually bring the patient close to earth’s touch with their inner creativity.

The sessions in the entire therapy period could involve activities that require working with clay.

Experts in art therapy have brought the numerous benefits of art therapy to as many as those who want to experience its specialized set of activities.

The expectations of an art therapy session include the readiness to get involved and engaged in activities such as painting, making a mask, creating a visual journal, and assembling a collage. The focus of both the therapist and the patient is the process, not the result.

Their aim is not dependent on the outcome but the effect such process is having on the patient rather than the finished product itself. 

There is a plethora of health and psychological benefits of art therapy. Such benefits as recorded, experienced, and reported over the years include that it helps improve the communication and concentration span of an individual.

Art therapy also helps reduce feelings of isolation that an individual may be experiencing before the art therapy sessions commence. It is confirmed that this form of treatment increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-confidence.

Summarily, an expert art therapist plus the patient will discuss the problems and challenges of the patient. They will examine the goals and concerns of such patients by using art processes such as drawing, painting, amongst other creative methods.

The steps deployed often result in improved physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the person concerned.

There is often a general serenity in the therapy session as it is devoid of the patient struggling to find a word to express their emotions and deepest confusions.

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.

ARTS AS A POTENT TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION

When it comes to addiction treatment, there is much more to it than just staying away from either drugs or alcohol. There is a need for the individual to understand the origin of substance abuse, the inspiring factors which are needed for recovery, and the motives for resistance to healing.

Art therapy can be defined as a procedure of experiential therapy which serves as a methodology to recovery which deals with the emotional and physical needs, which can be achieved through creative or physical activity. A good number of clients discover that art therapy is a sure way to relax and enjoy oneself, alongside addressing a good number of the complex standpoints of rehab.

Undergoing creative activity ensures that you find a way to control a good number of the stress-inducing emotions and anxieties which could surface during the course of treatment. During rehab, activities which include painting, drawing and the likes, can be utilized in expressing one’s feelings, exploring creativity and reducing stress.

One of the major aims of arts therapy, is to ensure that the client resumes a healthy lifestyle. For patients who have gone through personal trauma, which includes sexual assault, violence and the likes, art therapy comes in handy. Art therapy plays an important role of serving as a driver for the psychological aspect of recovery, and making available a form of self-expression.

Arts therapy is quintessential to people who are going through addiction treatment, because it assists them with ways on how to comprehend and control their addiction. Art therapy is an excellent way for an individual to discover certain aspects of his life which might be hard to explain verbally.

In a group setting, art therapy also comes in handy by helping people who are undergoing addiction treatment, become closer and understand the feelings of one another better.

Below are the categories of art which are commonly used in art therapy:

  • Painting
  • Dancing
  • Drawing
  • Sculpting
  • Acting
  • Music
  • Poetry

Some experiences which are very painful or perhaps shameful to narrate, can be communicated via clay, paint or ink. When art therapy is integrated into a recovery process, it becomes a more powerful way to enhance the healing process.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF ARTS ON ADDICTION

The use of art as a therapy by an addict involves a collection of activities which includes drawing of an occurrence during the use of the substance or the ability to paint in order to relieve stress or anxiety that comes with addiction.

The major goal of using art as a therapy is to enable the addict increase the ability to communicate in other to better convey the experience that comes with addiction.

Art therapy also helps the addict to manage past experience and live above the blemish that addiction brings. There are different forms of art therapy which includes painting, sculpting, drawing, jewelry making and so on.

  • Drawing

Drawing which is a major form of art is the ability to use symbols and lines to communicate and express feelings, thoughts and ideas without the use of words. It involves expressing one-self using drawing instruments.

An addict who has a knack for drawing can develop the skills needed and use it to manage anxiety and depression that comes with addiction and direct emotions rather than relying on substance.

Also drawing seems to be one of the most suitable forms of artistic expression because it can be done at any time and any place. There are a lot of tools that can be used to draw and this makes it a very convenient activity to perform.

  • Painting

Painting is known to be a helpful therapeutic activity for those suffering from addiction. It allows the addict bring out all depressing emotions on paper.

Overtime painting has helped restore the dim aspirations and hopes of an addict. Painting helps to influence self-esteem, reduce anxiety and also provide an addict with the ability to develop skills to manage social relationships.

  • Pottery or Sculpting

Sculpting is a wonderful therapeutic process for anyone facing addiction. Although, it is an untidy activity to perform, it is a reflective and meditative activity that helps to deal with various addictive issues. It involves working with various materials like clay, paper or glass to replicate ideas into solid and tangible objects.

  • Jewelry making

Making jewelry is another potential way recommended by therapists to foster the recovery process of addiction. It involves making objects that can help mend the broken connection that an addict normally feel. It helps them focus and work on their reduced self-esteem. Some of the objects that can be created includes beads, necklaces, and earrings and so on

It is also important to note that using art as a therapy sometimes may not effective because not every addict might have a positive response to it. 0

Common Types of Therapeutic Art

art therapy types

The process of creating visual art is a very restorative one to our souls. Creating art has been proven to lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, use the right and left brain actively together and relieve many mental disorder symptoms. There is no doubt that we were intended to use our creative faculty to keep ourselves in balance. There are certain visual art forms that are particularly well known for their therapeutic qualities.
Perhaps the most therapeutic medium for creating visual art is through painting, or using any other art tool that controls the use of the color spectrum. Paints, pastels, colored pencils and even crayons allow the artist to create whatever one-dimensional image they desire with whatever combination of colors they choose. This allows for a wide scope of expression. Materials for this type of project are easy to obtain and the creative possibilities are unending. Particularly having the ability to use a range of colors, which are strongly tied to emotion, is beneficial to mental health.
Drawing is very good for those who like to focus on the construction of the image itself rather than its tones. Drawing is a favorite of those who have exacting brains that seek to perfectly emulate an image. It is also good for artists who are imaginative and conceptual because it allows them to express their ideas visually.
Coloring may sound very elementary to a mature artist, but psychologists have found that coloring is practically a guaranteed way of connecting with your inner child. Coloring is a very basic therapeutic activity, which can transform the artist into a Zen state through its simplicity. Coloring is something that almost all children are given access to in our culture, and engaging in it has the ability to make you think with youthful parts of your mind and help you revisit phases of your life that have past.
And lastly, the simple act of creating a collage can be an incredibly useful tool of expression. Particularly for people who do not feel confident using art utensils to create lines and shading, collage is an excellent way of connecting your visual faculties with your psychologically reflective abilities.

Art to End Addiction and Disorders

addiction disorders art therapyWe have all heard the term ‘art therapy,’ but are you aware that the creative process of being artistic is actually very beneficial to the human psyche? Art has a number of benefits to mental health, hand eye coordination, helping the right and left brain work together and releasing endorphins. The creative part of the brain is a major faculty that was intended to be used regularly, and the visual arts are particularly good for personal expression. In fact, art therapy is so effective that it is a regular part of treatment in many rehabilitation centers to help treat addiction and mental disorder.

People are affected by a vast range of mental disorders, some fleeting and some long term, but one particularly effective way of helping people through mental disorders is through visual art creation. When a person has become entrenched in negative thought or behavioral patterns that are unwinding their well-being, the creative process of making visual art using paints, pencils, collage clippings and other art materials has been found to relieve and even minimize these destructive patterns. Art creation is an effective means of treating mental disorder because it allows for free, uninhibited expression, it gives the artist something to be harmlessly in control of, it uses parts of the brain that are often under resourced which activate a number of creative problem solving abilities.
Time to look at alternatives when necessary, and seek out mental health treatment facilities for professional advice.
The condition of addiction can be dealt with similarly. Both addiction and mental disorder can be overpowering to people, and can feel like an entity of their own. Using art to address addiction or mental disorder and expel feelings about it can be an incredible tool for self expression and for venting about the burden of being affected. Creating visual art also channels past thought patterns because it connects the artist to their youth. This is useful in reconstructing the addict’s brain and helping them recall alternative ways of thinking.

Art Therapy for the Soul

soulful art therapyArt creation has been found to have healing qualities and can be very useful in treating addictions and mental disorders. This is because art creation is a healthy, intrinsic activity for people to engage in. People are intelligent, thoughtful beings that have seemingly been creating art since  their beginning. Language is limited in its ability to express the depths of the soul, and creative endeavors such as art and music fill in where language falls short. Art creation is very useful for having personal revelations, being cathartic, reflecting on the self and for expression.

When a person is struggling with addiction or mental illness, one of their biggest challenges is to sort through their behavior cognitively. Being objective about one’s self is very difficult, and understanding one’s own behavior can be very psychologically complex. That is why many people struggling with addiction and mental illness seek the professional help of an addiction counselor, a psychologist or another mental health professional. Coming to understand your own behavior and then correct it is done partly through the advice of a mental health expert and partly through your own self reflection. One of the best ways of freely exploring your own psyche is through art creation as it opens the mind and allows for the free flow of ideas.

Common types of therapeutic art creation include collage, drawing, painting and photography. Collage can be very useful for those who are visually driven. What they cannot express in words, they can express by finding images that other people created and laying them out in a way that makes sense to them and captures their own original idea. Drawing and painting are two very old artistic mediums that people have been utilizing for centuries. Whether someone is replicating something they see in life or creating from their imagination, drawing and painting will prove to be very therapeutic. Photography is a great artistic medium for those who enjoy interacting with the world, be it the natural world or the man-made world.

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Why Art Creation Helps People

art therapy helps peopleThere is a reason people continue to create art even when they discover that there is usually no money in it. The creative capacity that exists within human beings is essential to our existence. It is arguable that our creative abilities are even divine. It is widely believed that humans are a result of a divine being’s creative process, which was instilled into us. Creative projects are more than just fun, they are a high-calling.

When it comes to creative projects in the visual arts spectrum, the therapeutic possibilities are endless. What we typically think of as art is an aesthetic arrangement of materials that impact the viewing audience by carrying meaning. Arriving at the destination of meaningful art is consistently a meaningful process. This meaningful process of journeying to fulfill an artistic vision is the part that is most important to people. The creative journey requires introspection, examination, integrity, self-awareness and connection to one’s emotions. Going through this process does a great deal of good for a person’s mental health. Because most of us are exposed to visual arts projects at a very young age, many of these abilities are inherent.

The way that visual arts projects can help people through difficult life circumstances is very unique and beneficial. Creative projects are to difficult emotions what lubrication is to an old bike. They get the gears moving and working. When someone experiences the loss of a loved one, a divorce, being laid off or any other circumstance that causes grief and stress, getting out the art supplies can be the best way of healing. Any creative process will ignite the same faculty that processes major life changes, but the visual arts in particular are very good for high emotions. Sometimes our personal emotions are too big to express logically, and incorporating the use of color or sound is a more effective way of expressing meaning.

Working on a visual art project can also help alleviate disorders, addictions and substance abuse. Other than the mental health benefits described above, the visual arts can also be very useful for connecting with areas of the brain that have not been tapped into for a time. Coloring or doing arts and crafts is known to be one of the best ways of channeling your inner child, when can help you make huge strides in defeating a mental hardship.