Expressive Arts 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.

In addition to this, it can also apply to people going through either rehabilitation and other healing purposes.

Creative arts therapists may work with a variety of people. They can work with children who need support and counseling, people that are in homeless shelters, and prisoners in a correctional facility. A prisoner explained how this unique type of therapy has helped them, “Drama showed me how to interact with others. Most of all, it gave me a way to have excitment in my life without the use of drugs.” Creative arts therapy can help anyone who is struggling with mental illnesses and can improve their mood to help them be happier and to help with daily

support therapist with there efforts of associated within arts to aid in helping patients through raising their disposition through music. The critical observations towards Music therapy by health and medical care has struck my cord of curiosity as to establish how they have stood up to these viewpoints.

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).

Anxiety is a general term for several disorders that cause nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worry. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Anxiety Disorders affect 18.1 percent of adults in the United States (approximately around 40 million adults between the ages of 18 to 54). Therefore, different types of therapy have developed to treat this mental disorder. Moreover, many studies have proved and evidenced the beneficial and great effects of art therapy in treating anxiety. Arts, music, drama, and poetry therapies are referred to as "creative arts therapies" because of their roots in the arts and theories of creativity. These therapies and others that utilize self-expression in treatment are also called “expressive therapies". This research paper will discuss and explain anxiety and its effects, it will also introduce art therapy which is a beneficial treatment for patients with Anxiety Disorders.

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).

Although the idea of using creative therapy to calm and clarify inner thoughts has been around for centuries, it didn’t become a recognized type of therapy in the United States until about 50 years ago, when the American Dance Therapy Association (1966) and the American Art Therapy Association (1969) were established. Creative therapy is a journey of self-discovery and self-expression, as it helps the person discover who they are, where they are, what they have, and what they need to get where they want to be in life. Creative therapy, which includes art, dance (movement), drama, and music therapy, can be used to identify and change the negative thoughts and emotions associated with depression. Often, these types of therapy exact a healing influence on the mind and body because the creative process helps release chemicals found in the brain that fight depression, such as neurotransmitters (serotonin), endorphins, and endocannabinoids, while reducing immune system chemicals that can worsen depression. As such, creative therapy can also improve a person’s overall well-being by reducing depression and anxiety. However, there are a number of additional psychological and emotional benefits achieved through creative therapy, including:

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

Music therapy, a clinical use of music interventions to accomplish therapeutic goals, involves a broad range of activities including playing an instrument, singing, or listening to music. Similar to occupational and physical therapy, this expressive arts therapy remedies psychological conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or hypertension to maintain the well-being of an individual. Likewise, music has been a therapeutic tool that has shown positive effects to parts of the brain including regions involved in emotion, sensation, movement, and cognition. Although music therapy is a somewhat new-found treatment, it is used prominently today. Administered by a trained therapist, this type of therapy is used in correctional facilities, nursing homes, hospices, and special education schools.

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,

The nature of art is expressing oneself. The main principles of art can be demonstrated throughout the following activities such as, dance, drama, music and visual arts, However, there are numerous ways of expressing yourself through creative practices. All of the creative arts have different approaches and affect people in different ways. Art therapy has been used with a variety of