When we think about the traditional types of therapies, we tend to think of psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, existential therapy, and more. What if there was a type of therapeutic technique that involved the use of drawing, painting, or even sculpting?
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches lives through active artmaking, creative processes, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship. It consists of different aspects that help individuals explore their emotions and does not even require any prior artistic experience. It is known to help patients who struggle with addiction, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and much more. Art therapy consists of a variety of different techniques such as drawing, sculpting, scribbling, carving, and molding clay.
It is very important to understand that art therapy is not a means to end all mental health challenges. It cannot cure, heal, correct, restore, or resolve mental health challenges spontaneously. Just like traditional types of therapy, it also requires patience and time. It is used as an instrument to promote psychological health and well-being. Furthermore, the length of the therapy depends on the needs of the client.
How is it Beneficial?
Art therapy has been shown to benefit people of all ages. It is normally used as a complement to the traditional therapeutic techniques an individual may be undergoing. Art therapy provides a wide range of benefits for any individual such as –
- Self-discovery
- Stress relief
- Emotional release
It is also interesting to note that artmaking in general results in lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. I think we could all use a little less cortisol in our bodies. Research indicates that art therapy can improve communication and concentration, as well as help reduce feelings of isolation. This type of therapeutic technique has been seen to lead to increases in self-esteem, confidence, and self-awareness.
Can I Conduct Art Therapy at Home?
Here is where it gets a bit complicated. If any form of artmaking such as scribbling, painting, drawing, or the like reduces your stress, then go for it. This is an example of how artmaking and forms of art help us. When we discuss art therapy, we are talking about performing artmaking under the supervision of a licensed art therapist. The therapist is there to follow up with clients and support them as their emotions unfold. So, if you tend to scribble to reduce your stress in a stressful situation, that is awesome, but it does not mean that you have conducted art therapy. It just means that artmaking is a way for your mind relax in such situations. It is important to highlight this point as people tend to confuse both aspects.