The Power in Healing and Self-Discovery
Art therapy is utilized by therapists to help patients understand, express, and come to terms with their feelings and thoughts. Patients collaborate with an art therapist to explore their emotions, comprehend issues or emotions that trouble them, and use art to help them find solutions. Patients who cannot access their subconscious through regular talk therapy can reveal traumas or suppressed emotions by creating art.
What are creative arts therapies?
Creative Arts Therapies
Creative arts therapies provide healthy, non-threatening ways of processing your experiences and feelings, as well as offer a chance to communicate those feelings to yourself and others. There are several forms of creative arts therapies, each with distinct treatment methods and qualified providers. Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Drama Therapy, and Dance/Movement Therapy are commonly used to promote self-expression.
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Creative Arts Therapies
Across all disciplines, the first session typically includes a conversation between you and the therapist to develop goals and plan next steps based on your personal needs and preferences. You are then given the tools to create art through whatever medium you prefer and find works well to express. “Once you begin creating, the therapist may, at times, simply observe your process as you work, without interference or judgment (Art Therapy, 2021).” When you are done, the therapist may ask how you feel about the process of creating art or discuss the personal meaning behind the artistic expression.
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What should I look for in a provider?
Creative Arts Therapies
These clinicians should also have received specialized education from a university or college that is approved by the field’s accrediting body.
Generally, you should look for the following credentialing by your provider’s names:
- Art Therapists: ATR or ATR
- Music Therapists: MT-BC
- Drama Therapists: RBT
- Dance/Movement Therapists: R-DMT or BC-DMT
Art Therapists should have a master’s degree or higher, generally from an integrated program in psychotherapy and visual arts.
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Creative Arts Therapies
Using creative arts allows you to draw on a nonverbal or creative communication that can prompt conversations about traumatic memories and confusing emotions. This can lead to more productive dialogues with the people involved with your life and your care. Further, conversations and meaningful processing occurring within therapy sessions can also translate into the development of coping strategies that can be used outside of the art studio, such as more comfortable social interactions, reduced feelings of guilt and loss, and improved self-esteem. Engagement in different mediums of art with the support of your therapist can also facilitate improvements in functional skills through use of your cognitive and physical abilities in a novel environment.
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Visit Brain Line to Learn MoreThe American Art Therapy Association
In their website they define Art Therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship. Art therapy is conducted by a licensed or certified Art therapist they are professional that can help you. I will be putting some links to access more information about this type of therapy.
Art Therapy Techniques
The goal of art therapy is to utilize the creative process to help people explore self-expression and, in doing so, find new ways to gain personal insight and develop new coping skills.
The creation or appreciation of art is used to help people explore emotions, develop self-awareness, cope with stress, boost self-esteem, and work on social skills.
What Art Therapy Can Help With
Art therapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental disorders and psychological distress. In many cases, it might be used in conjunction with other psychotherapy techniques such as group therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Art Therapy Is Not for Everyone
Art therapy isn't for everyone. While high levels of creativity or artistic ability aren't necessary for art therapy to be successful, many adults who believe they are not creative or artistic might be resistant or skeptical of the process. In addition, art therapy has not been found effective for all types of mental health conditions. For example, one meta-analysis found that art therapy is not effective in reducing positive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
How to Get Started
If you think you or someone you love would benefit from art therapy, consider the following steps: Seek out a trained professional. Qualified art therapists will hold at least a master's degree in psychotherapy with an additional art therapy credential. To find a qualified art therapist, consider searching the Art Therapy Credentials Board website.
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The duration of Art Therapy can vary widely depending on your therapist and treatment goals. Some people may engage in Art Therapy for just a session or two, while Art Therapy may be a component of ongoing treatment in other cases.
Types of Therapy
All therapy clients bring different challenges, situations, strengths, identities, personalities, and preferences to their first sessions. There is vast diversity when it comes to why people begin therapy, which is met by an expansive range of therapy treatment approaches.
There are hundreds of evidence-based therapy types, and many more which are rooted in spirituality, mysticism, or theory. Therapy types range from ancient modalities like ecotherapy to cutting-edge neuroscientific treatment options like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
While most therapy types can offer some benefit to clients, finding the therapy approach that's right for you is important in reaching your overall mental health potential. What's right for you might depend on your presenting symptoms, your therapy goals, or how you like to work with your therapist, and can also evolve over the course of your therapy treatment.
For additional details, visit our blog. It is frequently updated with articles covering a diverse array of subjects, including mental health, mental illness, nutrition, and art therapy techniques such as pyrography.
Whether you seek advice on enhancing your mental well-being, wish to understand various therapeutic approaches, or are looking for creative ways to integrate art into your self-care practices, our blog caters to all interests.
Stay informed and empowered by regularly exploring the extensive knowledge and resources available. Become part of our community of individuals committed to fostering mental wellness and healing through education and creativity.