Expressive Arts Therapy Research Paper

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 can definitely make differences and can help the human’s motor and reasoning skills. Cases have been reported that children who have at least three years of experience in the music world perform better than those who are not. These children were tested on nonverbal reasoning skills which includes analyzing visual information such as comparing and contrasting shapes and patterns. Involving your skills in music does more important positive changes that you can not imagine.

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 the test I took, the top 3 careers I would be great at based on my personality was Art Therapist, Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teacher, postsecondary, also Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses.

Music can help the human brain in many ways. It’s like what Prof. Sarah Wilson from the video “Music Of The Brain” said about the effects of what humming and singing from a mother can do to her offspring. The humming and singing a mother does can develop a very important and special bond and connection between the child and mother. About 40% of babies who were born pre-maturely can develop reading and writing disabilities because those months that they missed could be the amount of months that their mother would be singing or speaking to their babies. Most of what premature babies hear is beeping from the monitors since they are kept in a special care room at the hospital. Also, music can help speak impaired people. For example Dr. Peter Hand’s

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.

Roger’s traditional person-centered therapy is perhaps the greatest example of “talk therapy” as there is not any homework, specific techniques, or behavior to be changed. Instead, the success of the therapy lies in the process and letting clients experience this process as fully as possible. Therefore, it may be surprising that Natalie Roger’s person-centered expressive arts therapy has shifted away from traditional verbal means of expression to more creative means. According to Sommers-Flanagan, through mediums such as movement, drawing, painting, music, writing and improvisation “clients peel away the layers of defense and find their true nature” (2007). Expressive art therapy is not concerned with the end product (client’s do not create a piece to hang on the wall) but rather the process of using art to delve into a client’s pain, rage, or grief is the goal. Therefore, just as in Roger’s person-centered therapy the process is the focal point but the mediums used are quite different. Through these mediums clients find other ways to go inward, other ways to speak. Like her father’s person-centered therapy, Natalie Roger’s expressive arts therapy is nondirective and lets client’s lead the process and trusts them to find the modalities they can learn from (Sommers-Flanagan, 2007).

Building resilience Art and play therapy interventions have many positive impacts on one’s self-concept and general well-being. The effects of these interventions can empower underachieving children from low-income families when they face various stressors in childhood and also later in life. The examples above demonstrate some of the positive impacts that art and play processes have on children in a short time frame. In the long run, these interventions act as preventive measures through which children acquire effective communication methods that 13 enhance their problem-solving abilities, and learn how to deal with developmental crises

Not much has been written about the use of expressive arts in existential practice. “Pat Allen, one of the founders of the open studio approach to art therapy… decided to experiment with having people make art alongside each other and be of service to each other during the process, hence the Open Studio Approach” (Story, 2007). This approach is based upon three elements; intention, attention and witness (Story, 2007).

A creative/expressive therapist works an average of 40 hours per week. Their schedule holds slight routine such as regular face-to-face client time, scheduling, and constructing reports. Overall, schedules seem to not be consistent due to working among every individual’s needs. It is important to make time for face-to-face sessions with clients and office responsibilities. Lindy expressed that she has found her career more manageable by splitting her 40-hour work into 20 hours of face-to-face client time and 20 hours of office responsibilities, such as scheduling, constructing evaluation reports and prepping for sessions. Expressive/Creative therapy may be used as a part of the treatment strategy for a wide variety of mental, behavioral and

Most forms of therapy are centered on verbal communication. Art therapy, however, breaks that mold and introduces a more creative means of both communicating ideas and learning to grow. The American Art Therapy Association defines art therapy as:

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 definition of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (n.d.), “Expressive Arts combine the visual arts, movement, drama, music, writing and other creative processes to foster deep personal growth and community development. It evolves multimodal approach within psychology, organizational development, community arts and education. By integrating the arts to our inner resources for healing, clarity, illumination and creativity.” As to provide quality and ethical Expressive Arts Therapy, only Registered Expressive Arts Therapist who received professional training and supervision can practice Expressive Arts