Art Therapy Essay

Art as a therapeutic method was my primary focus throughout the psychology program at Ryerson University. I am familiar with much research regarding art therapy for mental disorders such as depression

Music and drama: Arts Therapists, who specialise in art, drama or music, use their chosen art form as a therapeutic intervention to help people with physical, mental, social and emotional difficulties. Arts Therapists work as autonomous professionals with a case load of clients in a variety of settings

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.

I found the article  "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." on the Gale Group website.

Art heals the soul. The shared emotional experience of creating art together provides a sense of closeness and purpose for those involved. The bond between the patient and therapist grows with each stroke of the brush, line on paper, clay on wheel or chisel to stone. The potential for truly impacting the lives of others in a meaningful way is empowering. The people that could be helped by art therapy walk all streets of life – traumatized youth, new mothers, inmates, dementia patients and special needs

Art therapy, the use of creative processes as a means of aiding one’s well-being. Art therapies allow individuals to express themselves through creative means. Often the process of making art is the core of the process of art therapy: through the work, individuals can experience themselves as empowered, valued, able to achieve, and able to deal with a task. Art can articulate deep feelings and can bring unconscious issues to the fore. Group art therapy approaches can also foster social interaction. Kruppers (2014) (para. 1).

It enhances quality of life and decreases depression. It improves cognitive thinking and reduces stress. Overall, Art Therapy not only helps individuals feel better through self-expression, but also acts as an outlet for relief from a crisis or loss (Figure 5). Most importantly, Art Therapy is available to everyone, regardless of artistic abilities. The creative process of art induces wellness and healing, and will continue to improve lives, one image at a time (Figure

“Statistics show that 70% of adults have experienced some form of traumatic event at some point in their lives and up to 20% of this population will develop PTSD and go untreated.”(How Art Therapy Supports Trauma Recovery, Douglas Mitchell). Art therapy has been historically proven as one of the most effective rehabilitation methods. Using art as an option for recovery, or a coping skill, is not as mainstream of a recovery method as necessary. Most people, therapists included, are unaware of the existence of art therapy and its benefits. A larger gallery of people aware of art therapy and its beneficial effects will create an increase in its use. By surveying the issues this form of rehabilitation

Despite all the ways art and music therapy can help people cope with their trauma, there are some disadvantages for them. For instance, art therapy is not very consistent; the results rely heavily on the patient and the therapist. There are a large variety of methods to art therapy and it differs from therapist to therapist. For example, a patient could be truly benefiting from their therapy under one therapist and moving to another then using methods that aren’t as effective for that particular person. Sometimes during a session a patient may express something with no relevance to their trauma. Or a patient may fail to see the correlation between their artwork and the problem. Another example would be that the patient doesn’t feel comfortable with either the medium or the environment and it could cause

A general snapshot of the career is: An art therapist treats and rehabilitates people with mental, physical and emotional disabilities. They usually specialize in one type of board art such as painting, sculpture or photography. As for daily activities, “A lot depends on the client and the referring circumstances.” Says Dr. Ellen G. Horovitz, an art therapist. However, most cliental work requires an assessment by the therapist. Many other healthcare professionals add their opinion throughout the process, along with facts from their particular fields. After the art therapist gathers all needed tools

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,

According to the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), art therapy, sometimes called creative arts therapy or expressive arts therapy, is the use of art creation as a form of psychotherapy for people experiencing trauma or illness, seeking personal development, or struggling to deal with the day-to-day act of living, furthermore Art therapy is a

Some people prefer to see arts as just art. Most of the time, individuals go to therapy because they need somebody to talk to, somebody that will be supportive and understanding, someone that will provide them with good advice and guidance for their lives. Others might think that art therapy isn’t really effective since not everyone is gifted with an artistic talent. In this case the process of healing or feeling better will take more time; first the individual has to learn the desired form of art before starting to use it as a therapy. People may also disagree with the statement of art being therapeutic because art is just for fun and entertainment it can never lead to solutions. Arts may provide a way of self expression but it is not a solution oriented method. The main purpose of therapy is to assure a better well being of a person by resolving their troubles, something that arts cannot do; it can only be used as a relief method to feel better for a specific period of

“Art is you being free from all of the world’s heaviness”. - Cathy Malchiodi, Ph.D. Many people face problems each and every day of his or her life. Often times in life, many people face overwhelming obstacles in their life that can become out of their control. Art has the ability to make one’s life of everlasting learning, growth, and deliverance. Pioneered in the 1940s, art therapy has been found to express personal concerns, interest, current situations and reflections on self-aspects; such as personal weakness and strengths. Unfortunately, there has been a decrease in incorporating the arts in citizens daily lives, most importantly throughout schools. Everything we encounter on a daily basis consists of art, something as simple as thinking has everything to do with the philosophy of art. It is vital to stress the importance and benefits art therapy plays in one’s life today, therefore, Art therapy should be implemented more throughout schools because it allows you to express your inner self, improve health crisis, and better learning in education.