Table of Contents
What does an expressive therapist do?
In an expressive therapy session, a trained therapist guides you through the process of expressing yourself through art. It’s usually a mix of different activities, but sometimes therapists focus on just one. For example, writing or keeping a journal might be better for someone who is new to therapy. Therapist Job Responsibilities: Establishes positive, trusting rapport with patients. Diagnoses and treats mental health disorders. Creates individualized treatment plans according to patient needs and circumstances. Lesley Professor Shaun McNiff, who established the Expressive Therapies program in 1974, calls it arts-based knowing. Expressive therapies came into a more prominent role in current culture with the arrival of psychiatry in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The most common type of therapy right now may be cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). As mentioned above, CBT explores the relationship between a person’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. It often focuses on identifying negative thoughts and replacing them with healthier ones.
What are examples of expressive art therapy?
Journaling, storytelling, reading literature and poetry, as well as making life maps, videos, and memory books are all forms of expressive art therapy; this can help more mature clients review and make meaning of their lives; this is a way to tell their life stories, as well as work through and heal from traumatic … Limitations of Expressive Arts Therapy. One of the major criticisms of expressive arts therapy is the fact that the primary reason for healing is not clearly discernible. It is not clear whether healing occurs from the creative process or if it is due to positive interactions with the therapist. Expressive arts therapy integrates therapeutic tools and techniques from many different art forms. The approach is described as “integrative” when different techniques are used in combination with traditional medicines to improve health and well-being. There are a variety of types of expressive play therapy including dramatic and fantasy play, sandbox play, and art-focused play. All types of expressive play therapy are premised on the idea that play is essential to the normal development of children. Modern expressive arts therapy emerged in the early 1900’s when psychiatrists began categorizing the spontaneously created art works of asylum patients. The field of psychology has a long and unfortunate history of stigmatizing mental illness. ART is most similar to eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy (EMDR). It also draws from other types of therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic approaches. According to its creator , ART is more directive, easier to learn, and often administered in a shorter time than EMDR.
How effective is expressive arts therapy?
Effectiveness. Research suggests that the use of the expressive arts for therapeutic purposes offers several benefits. A few of these include developing strengths and skills, personal growth, symptom reduction, improved communication, and making meaning of personal experiences. Visual art, music, dance/movement, drama, and expressive writing are the primary expressive arts modalities used in counseling. The creative arts offer both the clinician and the client an opportunity to move beyond the expressive limits of talk therapy. Journaling, storytelling, reading literature and poetry, as well as making life maps, videos, and memory books are all forms of expressive art therapy; this can help more mature clients review and make meaning of their lives; this is a way to tell their life stories, as well as work through and heal from traumatic … This type of therapy has also been shown to help children – and adults – deal with negative situations, disabilities and trauma. Through rehabilitation, education and communication, art therapy helps an individual release and express feelings they may not know how to let go of otherwise. It is a therapeutic means of dealing with emotional conflicts, fostering self-awareness, developing social skills, managing behaviour, solving problems, reducing anxiety, aiding reality orientation, and increasing self-esteem (American Art Therapy Association, 2004). The Expressive Arts Area of Learning and Experience (Area) spans five disciplines: art, dance, drama, film and digital media and music. Although each discipline has its own discrete body of knowledge and body of skills , it is recognised that together they share the creative process .
What is the history of expressive therapy?
The field of Expressive Arts Therapy (EXA) was founded in the early 1970’s by Shaun McNiff, Paolo Knill and others at Lesley Univeristy Graduate School in Cambridge, MA. It emphasized an interdisciplinary or “intermodal” approach to the use of the arts for healing, based on an established psychological framework. Expressive arts therapy integrates therapeutic tools and techniques from many different art forms. The approach is described as “integrative” when different techniques are used in combination with traditional medicines to improve health and well-being. In an expressive therapy session, a trained therapist guides you through the process of expressing yourself through art. It’s usually a mix of different activities, but sometimes therapists focus on just one. For example, writing or keeping a journal might be better for someone who is new to therapy. Limitations of Expressive Arts Therapy. One of the major criticisms of expressive arts therapy is the fact that the primary reason for healing is not clearly discernible. It is not clear whether healing occurs from the creative process or if it is due to positive interactions with the therapist. The Expressive Arts is made up of three subjects – Music, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. Students develop knowledge and skills in each subject. The difference between expressive arts therapy and art therapy is that expressive arts therapy draws from a variety of art forms such as writing, psychodrama, dance, movement, painting, drawing, sculpting, play and music (or a combination of them), while art therapy is based on one particular art form.
What is the difference between art therapy and expressive art therapy?
The difference between expressive arts therapy and art therapy is that expressive arts therapy draws from a variety of art forms such as writing, psychodrama, dance, movement, painting, drawing, sculpting, play and music (or a combination of them), while art therapy is based on one particular art form. Expressive Art Techniques Help Clients People find healing by telling their stories in a different way, which reduces trauma symptoms. Distract from symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger, or stress – When a person is engaged in a creative activity, it distracts them from negative thoughts and physical pain. Therapists work to help their patients address similar issues, and often provide the same advice that counselors might. However, a key difference is that therapists often seek to go deeper by helping the patient understand the how and why behind a challenge. The field of Expressive Arts Therapy (EXA) was founded in the early 1970’s by Shaun McNiff, Paolo Knill and others at Lesley Univeristy Graduate School in Cambridge, MA. It emphasized an interdisciplinary or “intermodal” approach to the use of the arts for healing, based on an established psychological framework. A psychologist is more likely to focus on cognitive behavioral therapy while a psychotherapist may be more focused on interpersonal relationships. Therapists also often specialize in specific areas such as marriage and family therapy, clinical psychology, school counseling, or substance abuse treatment.