Four Useful Healing Benefits of Art Therapy

 

ART THERAPY AUSTIN

 

According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is defined as “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.” Furthermore, the Art Therapy Credentials Board states that art therapy is also designed to use art media, the creative process, and all resulting artwork as a form of healing and therapeutic process as well.

 

Even though not a great deal of actual scientific research has been completed in terms of both art therapy and its overall effectiveness when it comes to treating both mental health and addiction disorders, there are multiple testimonials that detail how art therapy has helped treat these types of disorders.

 

Those who are able to benefit the most from art therapy include the following:

 

*Children, especially those who have experienced grief, trauma, or mental health disorders and who don't have the ability to be able to completely verbally express all of their emotions or thoughts. Furthermore, this kind of therapy can also enable children to cope with their feelings in a more safer environment.

 

*Teens, especially those who have experienced psychological stress, co-occurring disorders, and mental illness disorders. This kind of therapy can help to appeal to their overall creativity, as well as be a form of non-threatening communication. Furthermore, art created by a teen can provide an experienced therapist with insight into more of their specific needs and perspectives.

 

*Adults, especially those who have experienced mental illness disorders and co-occurring substance abuse disorders. The best type of therapy is still considered to be a certified, trained, or licensed therapist as opposed to more alternative methods such as popular adult coloring books.

 

Here are four of the most useful healing benefits of art therapy:

 

*First and foremost, perhaps one of the most useful benefits of art therapy is behavior adjustment. Art therapy is able to provide a great opportunity to take a closer look at both choices and behavior in a much safer way, thereby offer patients the opportunity to be able to practice alternative behavior and responses.

 

*Another of the most useful benefits of art therapy is personal insight. Oftentimes, patients are able to successfully work through their own internal voices while, at the same time, working on their own art. While seeing their own feelings and thoughts communicated through their works of art, they may also be able to gain a more important understanding of their own specific condition thanks to the assistance of a therapist.

 

*One other of the most useful benefits of art therapy is regulating both impulses and emotions. Thanks to the guidance of an experienced therapist, patients will be able to learn how they can regulate their own emotional responses and instincts as a result of creative expression, thereby creating additional opportunities for both self-control and confidence.

 

*Another useful benefit of art therapy is improved perception. One of the most effective methods to help with identifying and making connections between both body awareness and emotions for patients is to convert emotions in a more visual way. This is something that can be a stronger starting point in all kinds of therapeutic approaches.