Creative treatment utilizes innovative materials to improve one’s mental well-being, social skills, and coping skills. A board-certified professional facilitates a treatment session where the client may draw, paint, sculpt, or collage to express their thoughts and sentiments and understand their inner selves. Let’s dive deeper into understanding what art therapy is all about.
There is a saying that art encompasses everything in life. Almost anything in this world can be considered an art. Many found that creative expression includes nature, music, language, literature, technology, tourism, media, and many others. It is such a multifaceted concept, and it has no boundaries.
History shows creativity as a means of communication way back. Long before men could write with words or speak, creativity has been a way to express thoughts. Without a doubt, it plays an influential role since civilization began.
However, this has not only allowed people to express themselves creatively but as well as to become curious and inquisitive. Many of today’s tools and technology may be directly correlated to science. Hence, there are links between interweaving creativity and science, particularly medical science.
All About Art Therapy
The use of art in medical science has long been around. According to historians, it started as early as the 3rd century BC. It has allowed individuals to illustrate and document their ability and medical knowledge relevant to today’s different healthcare independent practices. From human anatomy to designing diagnostic models to surgery to drug formulation, creative intervention has significantly and continuously helped the healthcare industry.
Fast forward to today, art in medical science has progressively evolved alongside humankind. As primary care and public health are growing, many physicians continuously look for multiple treatment approaches for different physical and mental health conditions. At the beginning of the 1930s, it has become an adjunct to the health sector since its introduction to the medical field.
Artistic intervention is a multidisciplinary field utilizing art-based methods and creativeness as a healing component. Evidence shows a strong link between how visual design, multimedia, and performance positively impact an individual’s well-being. Since then, doctors have promoted creativity as mental health care for people with disabilities of all ages, may it be physical disabilities or mental health problems.
FAQs
If you are interested to know more about expressive arts, below are the frequently asked questions about this topic.
What Is Art Therapy?
Art therapy services are a form of psychotherapy that utilizes innovative materials and creative expressions to improve mental wellness. A professional art therapist facilitates a session where clients may draw, paint, sculpt, or collage a story to express and share emotions and understand their inner selves.
- Is it for everyone?
It works for any individual of any age – from children to seniors to decide. Sessions may be done individually, by group, by family, or by the community.
- Do you have to be good at it to be a specialist?
No. Art therapists are trained but do not necessarily need to be good at art. The focus of art therapy is not on creative techniques and creative form but on sharing and expressing one’s mind and inner self.
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- What are its disadvantages?
A disadvantage of expressive arts therapies is the discomfort caused by unfamiliar emotional responses or reactions because of therapy activities. Such feelings include increased pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and emotional issues and trauma.
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- How does it help anxiety?
Creative activities help an individual be calmer and less stressed by reducing anxiety. It also provides a sense of being in a state of control, minimizing sentiments of loss of control associated with stress.
What Can Therapy Help You With?
Art counseling helps boost your mental wellness. It also improves people’s psychological health from mental and emotional health issues like addiction, grief, depression, and trauma.
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- How does it help self-esteem?
Artistic counseling builds an individual’s self-awareness, helping people recognize hidden sentiments. Through this artistic experience, people begin to be more accepting of themselves, thus improving self-esteem.
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- Is it in demand?
Recently, there has been an increasing demand for art media specialist jobs. This increase implies the growing public interest in artistic expression counseling for improving mental wellness.
How Long Does It Take To Become An Art Therapy Specialist?
According to the American art therapy association, art therapists go to school for a minimum of six years to be licensed in the field. It includes four years of an undergraduate degree, a master’s degree in art therapy or a related field, and two years of an art therapy graduate program. The American Art therapy Association also spans many branches of the creative arts, such as music therapy and dance therapy.
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- Who invented it?
The establishment of art therapy started in the mid-20th century in the United States and Europe. Adrian Hill, a World War I artist, coined the term “art therapy” in 1942 when he discovered the benefits of painting and drawing while he was recovering from tuberculosis.
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- How can I do it at home?
There are several ways to do art therapy at home. Some of the most common activities are creating an emotion wheel, painting your sentiments, creating a journal, and sculpting your anger. You may also ask your art therapists for the creative process of activities to do at home to improve your psychological health.
The Creative Treatment
It is astonishing to know that art can be a form of remedy. The relationship between art and medicine is genuinely magnificent. Our knowledge about therapy has only been limited to traditional medicine, which often only utilizes verbal communication. Who knew that the future of art-making could aid in the therapeutic recovery of patients with mental illness?
Although still an emerging field, art therapy may become a valuable remedy approach in the medical industry. art therapists who wish to do a private practice need to have supplementary training, educational requirements, and information and should be board certified. They should pass the art therapy credentials board.
Art Therapy Insights And Final Thoughts
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- The therapy’s power allows the sufferer to release stresses, anxieties, and fears through different gifted processes such as drawings, paintings, sculpture, poetry, dance, and many more. Simultaneously, it allows people to become more self-aware, shows a noticeable boost of confidence, learns to explore, and improved mental health.
- Other clients also get to enhance a variety of gifted skills while in practice. It has also become an effective medium for creating a comfortable and safe environment for clients. At the same time, this practice makes it easier for them to trust chosen specialists.
It is a common misconception that creating artwork is exclusive to those who are good with the arts. Truth is, everyone is welcome in this kind of treatment. Art therapy is a powerful tool in helping people deal with some health conditions and promoting growth and the healing therapeutic process. As a famous proverb goes, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Allow yourself to be free to create art and relieve all your worries and tension. If you are considering art therapy for yourself or your loved one, you can connect with your local specialist for assistance.
FAQs
What is considered art therapy?
Is art therapy the same as psychotherapy?
Who is suitable for art therapy?
Does art therapy actually work?
What are the cons of art therapy?
What are 3 uses of art therapy?
How can I do art therapy at home?
Why is art therapy better than traditional therapy?
Does an art therapist diagnose?
What does art therapy do to the brain?
What are the principles of art therapy?