What is Art Therapy? Art therapy is a form of psychological help that works through problems and concerns (1). Art therapy uses different media such as painting, drawing and sculpture to express and examine emotions, thoughts, memories and ideas that are imprisoned in the individual’s mind (2).The art therapist and the individual work together to understand the meaning of the art work produced and this could be used to support healing in the individual. Art therapy has been very successful in some patients (2). It is important that the individual does not have to be brilliant in art to benefit from art therapy. The main focal point of art therapy is not the final end product but the creative process and the thinking that goes into it. The individual feels less exposed when engaged in art and this enables the individual to express his feelings that may remain verbally unexpressed otherwise. And this helps in the process of healing since the problem can be addressed only once the problem is identified (1). Art also gives voice to those individuals with speech impairment for example stroke patients (3). Some individuals find it difficult to use a verbal form of communication to describe feelings and find it easier to make sense of their experience by the use of art. History of Art Therapy Art therapy is a relatively a young therapeutic discipline. Adrian Hill, a tuberculosis patient discovered the benefits of drawing while recovering. In 1942, Adrian Hill coined the term ‘’art therapy’’. In 1946, the first art therapy post was established in the National Health Service. However the profession was officially recognized by the Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine after 35 years (1981) since the first art therapy was est... ... middle of paper ... ...s. At the end of each session, participants may voluntarily submit their writings to the therapists so that the writings could be quoted or used for later use. (4) Art therapy has been used in patients with different conditions. I have briefly described three experiments carried out with patients with mental instability, women with breast cancer and patients with eating disorders. Art Therapy and Mental Health Nurses may promote recovery in mental health patients through participatory arts. A study was carried out to explore the experiences of people who engaged with participatory arts. Participants were interviewed three times over one year and it was clear that the participants benefited from arts from the positive responses obtained. Arts helped theses participants to make new friends, experience peer support and some even described arts as a ‘’safe place’’. (5)
People from all around the world suffer from many different anxieties and troubles. They turn to things they enjoy so that they can forget reality and be somewhat happy or simply to communicate with one another. Most of the enjoyment is temporary and not sufficient, that is why they continue doing what they do. Creative Arts Therapy, also known as Expressive Arts Therapy, helps those who find themselves completely lost and have nowhere to go or anyone to go to. They can express themselves however they please. In order to better understand arts therapy one must have a knowledge of creativity, emotions and, of course, people.
In recent times, trying to express oneself has become increasingly difficult; this is as such with patients suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a result of extreme exposure to physical harm or danger. These traumatic experiences could be caused by reasons such as near-death, serious accident, violence, war, torture, or any event that causes extreme fear. A common occurrence with patients dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a hesitancy or inability to discuss or express emotions and thoughts verbally. We as art therapist need to come up with a method to reawaken the positive emotions and address the symptoms of emotional freezing in patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. If not, these patients will suffer lifelong with damaged relations and innumerable ailments, both physical and mental. With that being noted, the method of associative art and its various forms will bridge the gap between the imprisoned emotions detained by those suffering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the positive aspects of their life.
In this case I tend to agree with Dr. P’s wife because I disagree that the state of one’s mind should tell you if what they created is art or not. I think art can be developed along with one's mind and the the degradation of one does not mean the same for the other. Seeing everything as a symptom or side effect denies the patient's autonomy. This connects back to the thesis because the impairment of a part of one’s mind means that they will rewire, adapt and in this case still be able to produce art whether it be visually or
These disciplines include art therapy, brief therapy, exposure therapy, and more.
Occupational therapy (OT) theory offers valuable contribution to support professionalization since possessing a unique body of knowledge is essential to define a profession (Cooper, 2012). To utilize theory effectively, it is essential to differentiate between generic and specific theory as knowledge of the core theory helps to form OT identity and action as a practicing practitioner. In this essay, OT theory refers only to philosophy and OT specific models. Frame of references (FOR) will not be included since it can be shared with the other professions (Boniface & Seymour, 2012).
„« Art therapy can be used to help the client feel more relaxed in the therapeutic setting. (self disclosure)
This approach she felt was prominent during the art making portion of the session. Besides from the art portion of a session, Riley believed the verbal component of art therapy was important. Riley explored the stigma surrounding art therapy and the client's verbal expressions. From the book, Integrative Approaches to Family Art Therapy (Riley & Malchiodi, 1994), Riley states: “Hearing client’s language does not negate the process of looking at the art product. It is a synthesis of two creative means of communication.” Joining these two stories was key in Riley’s
Occupational therapy is an area of rehabilitation. Occupational therapists help to improve their patient’s’ ability in performing everyday tasks. They assist people of all ages who have a physical or developmental issues which prevent them from living independent lives. A job in occupational therapy may involve assessing patient’s environments, creating therapy plans, educating families or employers of patients, recording patient’s’ progress, or instructing patients’ on how to use equipment or perform exercises to handle their impairment.
“A Framework for Treating Cumulative Trauma With Art Therapy” by Kristina Naff examines the methodology of three art therapists working with clients who have undergone cumulative or multiple traumas. Naff collected qualitative data by conducting individual verbal interviews from three practicing art therapists who possessed proficiency in treating cumulative trauma. Naff asked the therapists for descriptions of their techniques, definition of cumulative trauma, and client's responses to directives they used during treatment. All three therapists used trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and found greater efficacy when they combined TF-CBT with art therapy. They agreed on using a humanistic and client-centered approach which
An occupational therapist is a trained and licensed health care professional who can make a complete evaluation of the impact of disease on the activities of the patient at home and in work situations. Hobbies and recreational activities are considered when an assessment is made. The most generally accepted definition of occupational therapy is that it is an activity, physical or mental, that aids in a patient’s recovery from disease or injury.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is short term and is theoretically rooted in communication and attachment theory. While it was originally created for just the treatment of depression, its use has been greatly expanded. This therapeutic method is well researched, but upon doing my own research, offers no recorded evidence of the use of art in the therapeutic process. This is discouraging, but not overly daunting, if a therapist is willing to be creative. What I feel that is most compelling about this theory is its attention
Bettina Stronach-Buschel, a nine-year-old girl named Michelle copes with an abusive family environment fueled by family discord and alcoholism. Dr. Stronach-Buschel provided the young girl with a variety of materials as a means of communicating her thoughts and feelings. By analyzing the young girl’s creations, Stronach-Buschel was able to get a glimpse into the young girls mind and help the child progress in therapy. Not only is art therapy a great form of insight and communication, it boosts patients confidence as well. Dr. Stronach-Buschel explains, “Art-making can be ego supportive and can lead to feelings of competence that may be incorporated and transferred to other areas” (Stronach-Buschel). In other words, patients regain a sense of control and
Art can benefit the unhealthy as well. With 34,000 soldiers coming back from Afghanistan as proposed by Barack Obama, there are many who consequently have mental disabilities or post-traumatic stress disorder. To cope with depression, or other symptoms, many doctors have used art programs...
Psychoanalytic art therapists must understand that the approach is symbolically meaningful to children who undergo this type of art therapy. The creative process is the most important aspect of psychoanalytic art therapy because it targets children’s unconscious thoughts as a means for symbolic expression. The developmental approach involves a substantial understanding of the stages of child development. This is important for developmental art therapists to understand because they design their treatment plans according to the developmental stages of children. Because art stimulates the right hemisphere of the brain, it triggers growth in the cognitive and emotional domains. The adaptive approach involves normalization, which means helping children with special needs to experience life just as children without special needs experience it. Another aspect of the adaptive approach is that adaptations can be made for all children so that their art-making experience may be maximized to its fullest potential. Adaptive art therapists must be aware of children’s unique, individual strengths in order to help them succeed. The cognitive-behavioral approach involves a substantial understanding of higher mental processes. Cognitive-behavioral art therapists study the mental processes of children to gain an understanding of how they have affected children. They decipher which mental