Art therapy helps people explore their inner world through creatively expressing what is going on with them emotionally. For some, it is easier to express emotion non-verbally, and that is what this unique therapy allows people to do.
Art Therapy Techniques:
- Drawing
- Painting
- Coloring
- Sculpting
- Collage
The basic premise of the process is to create art, and then analyze how what you made makes you feel. You explore themes and conflicts in your art that may be affecting thoughts, emotions and behaviors. All ages of people can benefit from art therapy and it requires no special artistic ability or talent.
This therapy has been around since the 1940’s. Doctors noticed that people suffering from mental illness often did drawings and other artwork to express themselves. They then explored it as a healing technique. Art has become an important part of the therapy field.
Art Therapy Helps:
- Mental disorders
- Behavior or social problems
- Trauma
- Stress
- Learning disabilities
- Brain injuries
- Age related issues
- Substance abuse
- Cancer
- and more…
There are many settings where art therapy can be done, some of them include: impatient offices, private health offices, schools and art studios. An art therapy session differs from a regular art class because in an art class you learn technique and your objective is on the finished product. In art therapy, you focus on the inner experience, perceptions, imagination and feelings.
You can also do art therapy at home. It is a great self care activity. A 2016 study published in The Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, found that just 45 minutes of creative activity can reduce stress and put you in a more relaxed state. It is also a great hobby that gives you time to yourself and leaves you with something that you created. It is also a great way to get into a “state of flow” Flow is when you are so involved in what you are doing, you lose track of time. Anytime you are in a state of flow, you are more relaxed and happy.
3 Artistic Activities To Do At Home To Improve Your Sense of Wellbeing:
- Draw what you feel – Realistically or abstractly. It can help you express feelings that you can’t get out in words. Draw with a pencil in a sketchbook, or go crazy and get some colored pencils or even some paint. It is really up to you how you want to express yourself!
- Keep a Gratitude Journal – Write down 3-5 things you’re grateful for and then find pictures of things and places you love. (either printed from the internet or go old school and cut them out of magazines.) Make a collage around what you are grateful for with the pictures. Collaging is a great artistic outlet and the pictures you choose to add to your collage will give you insight into yourself.
- Color– Coloring is relaxing and requires mindfulness and concentration in the moment. It is an excellent artistic activity to relieve stress and help you into a relaxed “state of flow.”
Here is a picture from my gratitude journal: (See? No artistic talent needed!)
I really enjoyed doing this. I was completely engrossed in the process. I even incorporated some drawings and coloring in it. It definitely relaxed me, and I didn’t think of anything else while I was doing it. I think I even got into “a state of flow.” I think art therapy is a wonderful way to become more in touch with feelings and emotions and it is something that I am going to try to do more often.
If you would like more information on art therapy or if you would like to know where to find a professional art therapist, please click here: www.arttherapy.org. to learn more at The American Art Therapy Association website.
“If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.”— Edward Hopper
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