Using art as a remedy – art therapy
Updated: May 11
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Mental health issues are increasing drastically especially since the beginning of the year 2019 due to a certain outbreak. And they are not based on ethnicity, race, country, age, or sex. The whole world has been facing this problem and watching it grow day by day.
Every third person in the world suffers from some sort of mental health issues since the outbreak and many can not acquire professional help, so they resort to solving their issues through online resources.
Some mental issues are bigger and some minor. If you are suffering from bigger issues, it is best to seek professional help, but for all those who are just stressed from daily life and are searching for a way-out art might just be the answer.
And it can also become a secondary income stream if you feel comfortable enough to sell your art online.
But in today’s post, we’ll be going through the art therapy concept of art in more detail.
What is art therapy
Types of creative therapies
Techniques used in art therapy
What art therapy can help with
Benefits of art therapy
What is art therapy?
It is a form of expression for those who have difficulties expressing themselves. The importance is the process of creating and how it makes an individual feel not if the art piece is done correctly. If the lines are straight enough if the colors used are matching nor if the proportions are correct. It is a form of therapy that uses artistic methods to treat psychological disorders and enhance mental health. It is mostly performed by certified professionals.
Types of creative therapies:
Drawing therapy
Dance therapy
Drama therapy
Expressive therapy
Music therapy
Writing therapy
Techniques used in art therapy
The goal of any form of therapy is to develop new forms of coping skills, to explore emotions in a safe way for the person in distress, to develop self-awareness, to cope with stress, boost self-esteem, and work on bettering social skills.
Some of the techniques include:
collage, doodling, scribbling, finger painting, coloring, drawing patterns, painting, photography, sculpting, working with clay, etc.
What art therapy can help you with
Memory, aging-related issues, anxiety, stress, cancer, depression, eating disorders, emotional difficulties, family or relationship problems, medical conditions, psychological symptoms associated with other medical issues, PTSD, psychological issues, substance abuse, and so on.
Benefits of art therapy
Did you know that less than an hour of creative activity can reduce your stress and have a positive effect on your mental health, regardless of your artistic experience or talent.
People who have experienced emotional trauma, physical violence, domestic abuse, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues can benefit from expressing themselves creatively.
You don’t have to be artistic to do art therapy. The whole point of this type of therapy is to relieve stress, anxiety, to express emotions that you can’t or don’t know how otherwise.
With all this said you still need to be aware that art therapy is not for everyone and for all mental health conditions. If the person doesn’t believe in this type of therapy or is reluctant when doing it, it may not work. The reason for this is because the person is resisting the process and blocking themselves. This could be because they are not ready to express their emotions, or their way of expressing and dealing with their feelings is blocked.
Usually, you can do art therapy alone without a professional supervising and analyzing the process. But when the person is suffering from a more serious form of mental health issue it is best to do art therapy with a certified professional and under supervision and usually combined with some type of other form of therapy or medications.
For ordinary people who are just stressed from daily tasks and are looking for a way out. For a way to clear the mind and not think about work, family, relationships, kids, etc. absent coloring, doodling, pattern drawing can be a form of relief. A form of recharging their mental space and physical relaxation.
The problem can occur when doing art therapy makes you even more stressed and anxious, usually when you are focused on the outcome and the art piece itself, not the process of release. In that case, art therapy might not be for you and you should find some other form of destressing.
