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Art has always been used as a means of communication, self-expression, group interaction, diagnosis, and conflict resolution throughout the time in history. For thousands of years, various cultures and religions around the world have incorporated the use of carved idol, charms, several sacred paintings and symbols, during the healing process in totality.
The term “art therapy” was coined in 1942 by British Artist Adrian Hill, who discovered the healthy and lovely benefits of painting and drawing while recovering from tuberculosis himself. In the 1940s, several writers in the field of mental health began to describe their work with people in treatment as “art therapy.”
As there were no formal art therapy courses or training programs available at that time, these care providers were often educated in other disciplines and supervised by psychiatrists, psychologists, or other mental health care professionals.
The establishment of art therapy as a unique and publicly accepted therapeutic approach only took place recently, in the mid-20th century. The emergence of art therapy as a profession arose independently and simultaneously in the united states and europe.
Art therapy involves the use of creative techniques such as drawing, painting, collage, colouring, or sculpting to help people express artistically and examine the psychological and emotional undertones signified in their art. With the guidance of a credentialed art therapist, clients can "decode" various non-verbal messages, symbols, and metaphors often found in these art forms, which should lead to a better understanding of their feelings and behaviour so they can move on to understand and then resolve their deeper issues.
Art therapy benefits people of all ages. Research indicates that art therapy improves communication and concentration and helps reduce feelings of isolation. Art therapy has also been shown to lead to increase in self-esteem, confidence, and self-awareness.
Positive results and benefits in art therapy may often be achieved by those facing issues such as:
Art therapy allows people to express feelings on any subject through a creative flow of work rather than with speech, it is believed to be particularly helpful for those who feel out of touch with their emotions or even feelings. Certain individuals experiencing difficulty discussing or remembering painful experiences may also find art therapy thoroughly beneficial.
Recent research suggests art therapy may help individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and personality disorders see improvement of some of their symptoms, although trials are still being conducted.
Art therapy helps children, adolescents and adults explore with their emotions, improves their self-esteem, manages addictions, helps relieves stress, improves symptoms of anxiety and depression, and helps cope with a physical illness or any disability. Art therapists work with individuals, couples, and even groups in a variety of settings such as private counselling, hospitals, wellness centres, correctional institutions, senior centres, and other forms of community organizations.
No artistic talent is necessary in order for art therapy to succeed, because the therapeutic process is not about the artistic value of the work, but rather about finding associations between the creative choices made and a client's inner mind and thus life. The artwork can be used as a springboard for reawakening certain memories and then telling stories that may reveal various messages and beliefs from the unconscious mind. In many cases, art therapy can be used in conjunction with other psychotherapy techniques such as group therapy or even cognitive-behavioural therapy.
Some situations in which art therapy can be utilized include:
One review of the effectiveness of art therapy found that this technique helped cancer patients undergoing medical treatment improve their quality of life and alleviated a variety of psychological symptoms too.
As with any form of therapy, your first session will consist of you talking to the therapist about why you want to find help and learning what the therapist has to offer. Together, you will come up with a treatment plan that involves creating some form of artwork. Once you begin creating, the therapist may, at times, simply observe your process as you work, without any form of interference or judgment.
When you have finished a piece of artwork—and sometimes while you are still working on it—the therapist will ask you questions along the lines of how you feel about the artistic process, what was easy or difficult about creating your artwork, and what thoughts or memories you may have had while you were working on it. Generally, the therapist will ask about your experience and feelings before providing any observations.
People often wonder how an art therapy session differs from the regular art class.
Where an art class is focused on teaching technique or creating a specific finished product, art therapy is more about letting the clients focus on their inner experience. in creating art, people are able to focus on their own perceptions, imagination, and feelings. Clients are encouraged to create art that expresses their inner world more than making something that is an expression of the outer world.
Certified art therapists will typically have a comprehensive understanding of the powerful effect that the creative process can have on those undertaking art therapy. Art therapists often use psychological, spiritual, and artistic theories in conjunction with clinical techniques to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome. The approach has proven to be beneficial even for non-verbal individuals and professional artists. Common techniques used in art therapy include:
Art therapists practice in a variety of traditional settings including hospitals, rehabilitation care units, assisted living centres, psychiatric facilities, senior communities and schools. They also work in some less familiar settings like wellness centres, forensic institutions, clinical research facilities, detention centres, and crisis centres.
Private practice is also very common for professionals who specialize in art therapy.
The benefits of art therapy are numerous, and here are nine ways it can help on the path to holistic wellness:
Art Therapy does have a tremendous potential to be a way of life for those who aim to live a wholesome life. It works for those who want to engage in an expressive outlet leading towards their overall betterment in terms of physical and mental wellbeing.
Article Courtesy: Trishna Patnaik, a BSc (in Life Sciences) and MBA (in Marketing) by qualification but an artist by choice. A self-taught artist based in Mumbai, Trishna has been practising art for over 14 years. She says, "It’s a road less travelled but a journey that I look forward to everyday." Trishna conducts painting workshops and works with clients as a art therapist 1:1 in Mumbai and other metropolitan cities of India.
When noted British artist Adrian Hill was convalescing from tuberculosis, he discovered how therapeutic painting was to him. His mind and body were so engrossed while painting, that he for a while forgot about the illness that had weakened his body. He described it as “completely engrossing the mind (as well as the fingers)…..realizing the creative energy of the frequently inhibited patients which enables the patient to build up a strong defense against his misfortunes” .Hill found it so beneficial that he suggested art work while recovering to his fellow patients. Thus began his Art Therapy work which was documented in 1945 in his books. He is credited with coining the term Art Therapy
So, what is Art therapy? “Art therapy can be explained as a mental health profession, wherein clients with the help of an Art therapist express themselves using artwork to understand their feelings, solve any emotional conflicts, manage certain behavior and addictions, polish social skills, reduce anxiety and increase self esteem. The goal of Art therapy is to foster a sense of personal well being and can be expressed through any art form be it painting, sketching, sculpting etc. In short, Art therapy aims at promoting physical as well as psychological well being of an individual.
Art therapists are usually trained in both art and therapy and use art in treating, assessing and for the purpose of research. The main advantage of Art therapy is that it works with all age groups and can be conducted at the community level or at a family level or just as a couple or individually. Also there is no restriction in the settings where Art therapy can be conducted. It can happen at a medical or wellness centre, schools or at independent practices.
In a world where there are multiple forms of therapy to cater to every need Art therapy stands apart due to its unique nature. The main difference between art therapy and conventional talk therapy is that there are no boundaries like words or language which restrict expression but emotions are allowed to free flow freely using any medium be it drawing, sketching ,sculpting or photography.
The uses of Art Therapy are many. It has been found very useful in treating kids with PTSD, recovery from eating disorders, helps at-risk children deal with body imaging etc .It helps pre adolescents and adolescents freely express themselves with colors rather than conventional talk. This has led to children being more willing to participate in this form of therapy than talk with a therapist. Children who are autistic have found art therapy to be useful in bettering their social skills as it provides an outlet for their feeling rather than resorting to tantrums when communication proves too frustrating.
Read: Autism Awareness and Healing
Art therapy has been used as a coping mechanism among cancer patients especially when it comes to expressing pain, fear and altered social relationships. It not only helped them express their self worth but also enhance it symbolically especially when in chemotherapy.
Read: Alternative Therapy and Cancer
Art Therapy has proved especially helpful in tackling mental health issues like depression, dementia, schizophrenia etc .Research have proved that creative therapies like art therapy stimulates many areas of the brain at the same time thereby promoting healthy brain functioning. Due to reduction of stress and depression amongst mental health patients their overall well being is promoted.
Read: Depression and Healing
The therapeutic value of art is much underrated in our society. Drawing and paintings are seen as a waste of time rather than a way to express one self. Art therapy is definitely one of the most popular forms of therapy as the means to express is limitless. Also it helps clients bring in positive change and growth within a safe and comfortable environment.
healclinic has many expert practitioners in different therapies including art therapy. Want to know more about how it can help you, contact us
Healclinic is a wellness platform which offers energy healing therapies like Reiki, Pranic Healing, Theta, Past Life, Inner Child, Family Constellation, Redikal, Graphotherapy, Akashik Records, Tarot Reading, Numerology, Astrology, Chakra Healing, by expert Healers.
Some of the energy healing therapies which we offer are reiki, pranic healing, past life regression, theta healing, redikal healing, family constellation, akashic records reading, astrological healing, inner child healing, hypnotherapy, tarot reading, numerology, astrology and many more. The basic tenet of all these therapies is that the human body is self healing and a person needs to be treated and not the disease.
They work on the cause of an ailment rather than the symptom and are more holistic in nature. It uses body’s own power to heal. These theraies are execllent ways to become aware of why you are facing a particular challenge and start healing from the root cause
