Artbreak Chapter Summary

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,

Art-based interventions use the creative process to help clients communicate and understand their thoughts and feelings (Case & Dalley, 1992). There are a variety of approaches one can take when using art in interventions, as it is a versatile technique. It can be combined with other forms of therapy, such as rational emotive behaviour therapy (Roghanchi et al., 2014) mindfulness training (Coholic, 2011

Similarly, we are well known with the fact that art therapy has a remarkable benefits. It also can distract people from pain and illness. According to the article "Art therapy with adolescent", understanding adolescent is a challenge. Tennegers are very sensative so instead of confessing they put themself in a emotional risk. Therefore, science has invented an art therapy to such childrens who are very poor at expressing themself. They join art therapy, draw/paint their thoughts and express their feelings and their problems through their art. The picture shown is drawn by a teenage boy who is mentally disturbed by his alcholoic mother. He had tired to reflect how he sees to faces his mother through the picture. The 2 masks represent the 2

The focus of my research paper is how art therapy can be helpful and why it will be. I believe it will be helpful to people with low self esteem, anxiety and depression. When a person has depression they are usually told to start a journal on how they’re feeling. Journaling is a type of expressive therapy, but it doesn’t always work for creative minds. Although, journalling is a type of creative therapy some people have a hard time showing how they feel with just a pen and paper. However, in art therapy you can use different colors to express how you’re feeling and various art

From the 1940’s to the 1960’s this form of therapy grew immesnly in the United States. In the 1960’s art therapy was “an idea whose time had come” (Junge, 2010). All the hype did not last long. In the 1970’s a split between the once unified body of art therapists was seen. Two lines of thinking came about. The first was “art as therapy” and the second was “art as psychotherapy.” The first focuses on the results during the actual process, while the second focuses on the knowledge learned from the process. This split still continues and can even be seen in the original definition given by the American Association of Art Therapy.

“Missing leisure activities” and “Not being able to do what you want to do” have been identified as the most common unmet needs among adolescents and young adults and rated as the highest level of distress (Dyson et al., 2012; Hedström, Ljungman & Von Essen, 2005). Given Jessie enjoys drawing and has been withdrawn from her interest, by engaging her in an art group will allow her opportunities to re-engage in her meaningful activities which will meet her psychological needs and reduce distress.

The high levels of stress our youth face in schools today prevent them from performing at their highest standards, which in-turn reduce their self-esteem, their chances for a better future, and their motivation. Teaching students how to cope with stress will help them interpret their work, be motivated to do their work, and behave better in school and at home. Sculpture therapy is excellent for students of all demographics as everyone can have a creative side, everyone experiences some stress, and everyone needs to learn how to process their

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.

Stress is a factor that is difficult to escape. It is a nuisance to experience frequently. Especially, as I enter university, the amount of stress experienced is profound. I believe I have had a dozen of mental breakdowns ever since my university life started. This could be due to the sudden change of lifestyle and new sense of independance. Trying to complete the mountains of assigned coupled with having a job and participating in extracurricular activities, stress is not foreign. However, it has come to the point where it has impacted me negatively. Sickness and lethargy were not uncommon factors in my life. However, introducing art to the mixture of activities happening in my life has surprisingly improved my well-being in a variety of ways. My mind felt sharper and I was more motivated. In order to combat stress, art was our weapon to conquer it.

Research is crucial to prove that fine arts play a major role in students’ lives. Brain research provides the most information on the studies of art education, the research that is conducted includes studies of fine motor skills and emotional balance on students in these art programs. (“The Importance” par. 2 and 3). Fine motor skills are the working together of small muscles, like hand-eye coordination; writing and eating are possible because of these skills (“Penfield” par. 1). Emotional balance is an equilibrium of the mind and body which allows for change; this is important for students because they need to have stable emotions so little problems (like the graphite of their pencil breaking) will not send them into a fit of rage. On the other hand, the improvement for self esteem and emotional expression are important skills for the future workplaces these students will be employed. Workers who have a higher self esteem can

Education and learning in public high schools are based upon subjects aimed to achieve success and excel performance on standardized tests. Before, research conducted on the benefits of art education was specific to children in elementary school. The research specific to elementary school students left the art benefits of young adults unstudied. Research resulting from the previous studies shows the members of the Board of Education prioritize the

Eileen Miller said that “Art can permeate the very deepest part of us, where no words exist.” Every person experiences emotion, and for some people these emotions are more prominent than they are for others. A great deal of those emotions are negative and make a person’s day to day life difficult to manage. Art is a beneficial form of stress relief and self-expression for several individuals. Research has shown that art therapy is a reliable and valid therapeutic treatment that reduces depression, improves social anxiety, and assists in treating individuals with many types of phobias.

Living in the twenty-first century, everywhere and everything is influenced by art. From local advertisement posters to world-wide famous sculptures, art is always playing a role. Unfortunately, art education fundings for schools have recently dropped by 50-70% (D’Amico). Because of this decrease, it could be detrimental to students by stripping them of their knowledge on arts. In schools, art has a huge part in giving students all their needs in order to succeed in their future lives. Arts education benefits students by three major ways: teaching good habits and skills, promoting knowledge on human creativity, and letting them express themselves through their artwork. Not only that, but students overall tend to do better on their schoolwork while being involved in arts education.

In this time of ever-increasing focus on improving standardized test scores while streamlining expenses to meet shrinking budgets, many school districts are defunding art classes. However, art is a vast and important field that is crucial to education and life. Art teaches invaluable lessons that prepare children for school, the workplace, and the world. Art helps to build creativity, critical thinking skills, and self-confidence. The study of art provides an immense range of benefits for children, both in school and out.

“To use art, counselors need to learn how to integrate art therapeutically into counseling. In using art, they need to emphasize process over product and clarify the potential benefits to the student. It has been suggested that art therapy fits nicely into the American School Counselor Association’s national standards.” (Howard, 2017).