Art Therapy

As a psychology student with an extensive background in Fine Arts, I bring a unique perspective to the mental health field. My interest in psychology began with the curiosity regarding the relationship between art and mental health. South Korea, my birthplace, has some of the longest working hours of any country. While working in Korea, I witnessed the results of work-related stress such as depressive mood and anxiety. However, there existed stigma related to mental disorders due to cultural expectations. Rather than visiting professionals in the mental health industry, many ascribed mental instabilities to their lack of willpower. This phenomenon spurred me to consider artistic activities in dealing mental distress. Eventually, I was motivated to study Psychology at Ryerson University; I hope to keep my path toward Art Therapy at Concordia University.

Transition: Let’s examine the aftermath of trauma on a child and how it affects their present lives and future development.

Lefèvre, Ledoux and Filbet (2015) researched the painting therapy not only importing the mental state such as sadness, anxiety and depression. Also, it can enhance

Art therapy is a Multi-Functional Psychological therapy that helps the mental mind in connecting things that are disconnected like a patient with alzheimer's where the patient's medial temporal lobe that’s the part of the brain that controls memory. The medial temporal lobe is vital in the brain because that is where the brain recollects the memories and stores them. When you get older the lobe gets weaker in which causes it to disconnect thus causing “memory loss” or dementia. In art therapy we like to cause a visual reconnection of that nerve so in which a patient then can remember more but in a visual stance as in some people like to look at photographs to visually which allows memories to reconnect. These programs are put into place to help anyone with mental issues they are put in place just to help.

Art therapy is said to use “three levels of intervention.” These levels include engaging in the clients senses through the physical manipulation of art materials, using the client’s art as a “symbolic container of their traumatic memories, and “cognitive reflection” guided by the art therapist. The therapist helps to “guide” where the client’s focus lays in terms of their traumatic memories; the goal of the therapist is to help the client integrate elements of their experience, other than the extremely negative, into their

According to an article published in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art therapy Association, “…art therapy strengthened personal, spiritual and social development” (pg. 72, Kapitan, Litell, Torres, 2011). Additionally, it could also help children reduce “acute stress symptom” (pg. 103, Chapman, Morabito, Ladakakos, Schreier, Knudson, 2001). This type of therapy can be used to build child’s self-esteem by encouraging them to express themselves openly through art.

Fard, Farah Joan. "The expanding reach of art therapy: though it's a relatively new approach to mental health treatment, art therapy is gaining traction and making a difference in people's lives." Art Business News, Winter 2015, p. 34+. Fine Arts and Music Collection, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=PPFA&sw=w&u=hillsbor&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA436797590&it=r&asid=1bc151430b53c85d758e9329f6ecf46a. Accessed 22 Nov. 2017.

The article, “ArtBreak group counseling for children: Framework, practice points, and results,” focused on ArtBreak and its ability to possibly lower elementary students stress levels as well as support their social/emotional development. The previous research supports that choice based art studios have been connected to the mental health field with regards to reducing stress, but there is little research that investigates art’s effects in the school environment. The researches purpose that ArtBreak will help relax the students as well as help develop their social/emotional skills. The researchers integrated three theoretical influences in order to form the framework for Artbreak. The authors describe the group process as one of the influences.

Adults who color often call themselves colorists, and while coloring may not be curing any serious diseases, it 's helping people cope with various issues in their lives. Therapists have often used art therapy as a way to provide therapy in conjuction with talking about problems. When people cannot put their anguish or depression into words, they 've been asked to express themselves through art. When a person considers themselves bad at art, they aren 't able to get the benefits that others might get from using art therapy as a tool. With coloring, there 's no special talent needed. Everyone can color between the lines to get the benefits of stress relief.

Tyson and Baffour (2004) wanted to explore the types of arts based strengths identified by adolescents and whether there was any relationship to psychiatric diagnosis. Tyson and Baffour conducted a study involving 108 adolescents admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit. Results indicated that 71% of the adolescent’s interviews reported an art-based activity or strength. These activities and strengths included making art, listening to music, or writing, as their most frequently used coping strategy. The study stated that 100% of the clients who listed artmaking as their first coping strategy and 74% of those who identified writing as their primary coping strategy suffered internalizing disorders, such as depression and anxiety. (Tyson & Baffour,

It is amazing how the combination of art and the brain can be understood and benefit Neuro art therapy. therefore, as it stated in the book, How the brain functions and how it influences emotions, cognition, and behavior are important in the treatment of most problems people bring to therapy, including mood disorders, posttraumatic stress, addictions, and physical illness. Overall, Art therapy uses pure art concepts, art making allows one’s mind to reframe experiences and reorganize thoughts. Art therapy has gained popularity throughout many years because it combines free artistic expression with the potential for significant therapeutic intervention. Therefore, Neuroscience and art therapy gives us a tremendous alternative option for engaging

In particular, a study by Sandmire et al. (2016) examines the beneficial effects of art on anxiety using both subjective and objective measures. The researchers theorize that participating in 30 minute art activities will lower anxiety levels. As well, the researchers try to determine if the complexity of the art activity influences the degree of the effect, such that if complicated activities reduce anxiety more than simpler activities.

Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. A goal in art therapy is to improve or restore a client’s functioning and his or her sense of personal well-being.

Expressive arts therapy is the use of art modalities, creative process, and aesthetic experience in a therapeutic context. It is a therapy of the imagination (McNiff, 1992). Effective communication is an essential element in therapeutic relationships and, although verbal language is the most conventional means of conveying information, other forms can convey just as much as words. The arts are an alternative form of communication that has recently received recognition for their value in therapeutic settings. There is a long well-established connection between the arts and psychology. Expressive arts therapy builds on a natural, complimentary relationship between the two disciplines. As a formal therapy, this form is relatively new with its

Almost every theoretical orientation has adapted the use and techniques of expressive arts therapy in some way. Humanistic psychology, for example, emphasizes the importance of play, creativity, and spontaneity. The creative process is intrinsic to self-actualization. Self-actualization makes life more meaningful and enhances abilities,