Table of Contents
Is there any evidence that art therapy works?
A randomized controlled study of 22 children found that those who received art therapy showed greater improvement on tests that quantify anxiety levels and quality of life, even 6 months after treatment. Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation … As an alternative, art therapy offers the space to explore and process the feelings, memories, and effects of trauma in their creations. This approach to therapy provides such individuals with a sense of safety and control while helping them process the trauma they have experienced. There is increasing evidence in rehabilitation medicine and the field of neuroscience that art enhances brain function by impacting brain wave patterns, emotions, and the nervous system. Art can also raise serotonin levels. These benefits don’t just come from making art, they also occur by experiencing art. By creating art and doing something as simple as coloring, stress levels are seen to drop exponentially in patients. Helping the patient finally relax allows them to focus their mind on other things such as processing emotions, focusing on themselves, and working on emotional release. The arts’ valuable role in mental health is being recognised It can help to boost confidence and make us feel more engaged and resilient. Besides these benefits, art engagement also alleviates anxiety, depression and stress. Positive Physical Impact: improving motor skills, enhanced physical movement and feeling. Positive Cognitive Impact: improving memory, prioritization, planning, problem solving, attention span and organization. Positive Psychosocial Impact: improving interpersonal skills, expression of feelings and collaboration.
What are the positive effects of art therapy?
Positive Physical Impact: improving motor skills, enhanced physical movement and feeling. Positive Cognitive Impact: improving memory, prioritization, planning, problem solving, attention span and organization. Positive Psychosocial Impact: improving interpersonal skills, expression of feelings and collaboration. Promoting self-awareness. Facilitating intellectual stimulation. Improving cognitive skills and coordination. Reducing anxiety and stress.
What are the cons of art therapy?
More serious concerns included art therapy causing anxiety,72 increasing pain,72 and resulting in the activation of emotions that were not resolved. In one study,73 a participant was also concerned that art therapy may be harmful if the art therapist was not skilled. There is a strong psychological connection between art (and all things beautiful) and the human experience, which is why so many use art therapy as a way to enhance self-expression, coping skills, stress management, and a strengthened sense of self. Depression and Art Therapy Art therapy provides an individual who is feeling pressured or overwhelmed with an opportunity to slow down and explore the issues that are occurring in their life. It provides them with a way to manage their behavior, reduce anxiety, process feelings, and destress. Art is an immediate mood-booster, and it fosters feelings of relaxation, creativity, and inspiration. Many studies have shown that both creating and looking at art can support mental wellbeing. Studies looking into the impact of art on the brain have shown that dopamine levels increase in people who have a new creative outlet. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger that can decrease in individuals with anxiety and depression. Art Activates the Reward Pathways in Our Brain When we expect to receive a reward, parts of the brain get activated to release dopamine, aka the ‘feel good’ hormone.
What is the goal of art therapy?
Art therapy is an effective treatment for persons experiencing developmental, medical, educational, social or psychological impairment. A key goal in art therapy is to improve or restore the client’s functioning and his/her sense of personal well being. Art therapists are trained in both art and therapy. Art therapists maintain honesty in their dealings, accuracy in their relationships, faithfulness to their promises and truthfulness in their work. Justice: Art therapists commit to treating all persons with fairness. Art therapists ensure that clients have equal access to services. Psychotherapy is the therapeutic treatment of mental illness provided by a trained mental health professional. Psychotherapy explores thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and seeks to improve an individual’s well-being. Psychotherapy paired with medication is the most effective way to promote recovery. Art is important because creativity is the foundation of a child’s education. It helps to develop motor skills, eye-hand coordination and has a large impact on their social and emotional growth. It also enhances their cognitive development which can have a positive effect on math skills and other related subjects.
What are the social benefits of art therapy?
Promoting self-awareness. Facilitating intellectual stimulation. Improving cognitive skills and coordination. Reducing anxiety and stress. Helped reduce pain, decrease symptoms of stress and improve quality of life in adult cancer patients. Improved ability to deal with pain and other frightening symptoms in children with cancer. Reduced stress and anxiety in children with asthma. Stimulated mental function in older adults with dementia. Helped reduce pain, decrease symptoms of stress and improve quality of life in adult cancer patients. Improved ability to deal with pain and other frightening symptoms in children with cancer. Reduced stress and anxiety in children with asthma. Stimulated mental function in older adults with dementia.
What are the 4 types of art therapy?
Art Therapy may be used on its own, or it might also be used as a component of or complement to another mental health treatment. The forms of art used in Art Therapy are usually visual arts including painting, drawing, collage, and sculpture. Art therapy is recognized as a mental health profession that uses the creative process of involvement in making art to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The self-expression involved in making art is seen to help people manage conflict and stress and increase self-esteem, self-awareness, and insight. It encourages the development of healthy coping strategies. Therapy can facilitate insight, empathy, and acceptance of other’s life challenges. It is capable of promoting problem-solving skills. Art therapy is capable of exploring, managing, and providing insight into traumatic experiences. Art can carry messages of hope. It can remind people of a shared human experience, which can be comforting in tough times. The power of art to comfort has been well-proven. Art therapy has been utilised for over a century to alleviate the symptoms of common mental health disorders. It helps with exploring confused or difficult thoughts and feelings. It can encourage positive feelings too. People enjoy the control and expressive qualities of making art. Sharing experiences with a trained art therapist is supportive. Art is a powerful way to express oneself, and it is also one of the most important ways to connect with others. Art helps you process your emotions and understand your surroundings. It allows you to see life from a different perspective and it makes you feel alive.