What Are The Benefits Of Art Therapy?

December 19 2022 TalktoAngel 0 comments 1573 Views

What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is the application of artistic approaches to address psychological disorders and improve mental health. Art therapy is an effective method based on the idea that artistic expression can promote healing and mental health.

People have relied on the arts for thousands of years for communication, self-expression, and healing. However, art therapy became a formal program in the 1940s.

Doctors and Clinical Psychologists noticed that people suffering from mental illnesses frequently expressed themselves through drawings and other artworks, prompting many to investigate the utilization of art as a healing strategy. Art has since evolved into a crucial component of the therapeutic field and is employed in some evaluation and treatment techniques. To learn more about art therapy, seek consultation from the “Best Clinical Psychologist near me” at TalktoAngel Asia's No.1 Electronic Mental Health Wellbeing Platform.

Techniques of Art Therapy-

Art therapy's goal is to use the artistic technique to assist people in exploring self-expression and, as a result, discovering ways to obtain personal insight and cultivate new coping skills.

Art is employed to assist people in exploring emotions, developing self-awareness, dealing with stress, boosting self-esteem, and practicing social skills.

Art therapy techniques may include:

Collage
Scribbling and doodling
Finger painting
Drawing
Painting
Photography
Playing with clay

Clients may analyze their artwork and how it affects their emotions as they create it. People can look for interpretations and conflicts in their art that could be influencing their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

What Art therapy is used for?

Art therapy has the potential to treat a variety of mental illnesses and psychological distress. In many cases, it may be used in combination with other psychotherapy approaches like group therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Art therapy may be employed to treat the following conditions:

Problems associated with aging
Anxiety
Cancer
Depression
Eating problems
Difficulties with emotions
Problems with family or relationship
Medical Problems
Psychological symptoms caused by other medical diseases
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Psychosocial problems
Stress
Addiction to drugs or alcohol

Things to keep in mind about Art Therapy-

You Don't Have to Be Creative

People of all ages, including children, teens, and adults, can benefit from art therapy, which requires no artistic ability or special talent. According to some studies, the mere sight of art can help improve mental health.

According to a 2017 study, art displayed in hospital environments contributed to a safe patient environment. It also helped with socialization and maintaining one's identity beyond the hospital.

It Is Not the Same as Taking an Art Class

People frequently inquire as to how an art therapy session is distinguished from an art class. Art therapy differs from art classes in that it is not concentrated on teaching techniques or producing a specific finished product. Art therapy focuses on allowing clients to concentrate on their inner experiences.

People can focus on their perceptions, imagination, and feelings when they create art. Clients are motivated to create art that conveys their inner world rather than something that expresses their outer world.

How can Art Therapy help?

A 2016 research published in the Journal of the American Art Therapy Association found that less than an hour of creative activity can reduce stress and improve mental health regardless of artistic experience or talent.

An art therapist may employ a variety of art methods with clients ranging from youngsters to older adults, such as drawing, painting, sculpture, as well as collage.

Clients who have suffered from emotional trauma, physical abuse, domestic abuse, anxiety, depression, or other psychological issues can benefit from creative expression.

Art therapy could be used in the following situations:

Adults suffering from severe stress
Children who are having behavioral or interpersonal issues at school or at home
Children or adults who have been through a traumatic event
Children who have learning difficulties
Individuals who have had a traumatic brain injury
People suffering from mental illnesses

Art therapy was discovered to significantly alleviate trauma symptoms and levels of depression in research on adults who had experienced trauma. Seek Online Counselling at TalktoAngel Asia’s No.1 Art Therapy Platform and seek consultation from the Top Psychologist in India for art therapy.

According to one review of the effectiveness of art therapy, this technique helped cancer patients improve their quality of life and alleviate a variety of psychological symptoms. One study discovered that art therapy lowered depression and boosted the level of self in nursing home residents.

Creating art also induces the release of dopamine, according to research. When we do something enjoyable, this chemical is released, and this essentially causes us to feel happier. Elevated levels of this feel-good neurotransmitter can also be extremely beneficial if you suffer from anxiety or depression.

Art therapy has many benefits, according to mental health professionals and experts, ranging from boosting your self-esteem and providing a safe outlet for your emotions to offering you a sense of authority over your life and helping you to recognize and comprehend yourself better. Creating art will take you on a journey of self-discovery which will help you overcome emotional roadblocks and figure out how to communicate with yourself and others.

Contributed by: Dr (Prof) R K Suri and Ms. Varshini Nayyar