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)
Throughout history there have been countless souls who were willing to challenge the norm of their everyday life. These individuals work towards change, help those around them, and strive for a better tomorrow. One individual who has been recognized as such was Shirley Riley. Riley was a prominent art therapist during her lifetime. This paper will discuss Riley’s professional career as well as her personal and fairly private life.
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.
These disciplines include art therapy, brief therapy, exposure therapy, and more.
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
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).
„h Creative art therapy is not about what the finished product looks like, but what it represents in the form of expression.(the client¡¦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.
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.
My vision of Art Therapy was very vague. I always thought art therapy was a form of therapy for distressed or abused children trying to tell a story through pictures or drawings. The American Art Therapy Association defines art therapy as a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well being of individuals of all ages. Art therapy is a form psychotherapy that has been practiced for over sixty years and it has been promoted as a means of helping people who find it difficult to express themselves verbally (Crawford, et al., 2010). Art therapy sessions usually start with a form of relaxation such as deep breathing , progressive muscle relaxation, or setting an intention for the session ahead (Hart, 2010). Art therapy is used for several different types of people with diverse illnesses such as: Autism Spectrum Disorder, people living with HIV/AIDS, mental disorders and even Cancer. Studies show that art therapy can lead to increased self awareness of self, as well as improved ability to cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences (American Art Therapy Association). This form of therapy helps these patients express positive feelings that may not be easy to access in the midst of a fear provoking experience (Hart, 2010). Art therapy help people to identify their feelings, and resolve the issues associated with their illness. Although, my lack of knowledge on this therapeu...
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
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...
Trauma, as defined by the American Psychological Association, is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. In order to process and overcome a traumatic experience, most seek a therapist. This is especially true for individuals who have dealt with childhood sexual abuse. There are different types of therapy and therapists that exist that individuals go to. Art therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that uses art as it’s main technique of communications in order to improve the emotional and mental well being of the patients. It combines the areas of human development, visual art such as drawing, sculpture, painting and other kinds of art and the artistic process with counseling and psychotherapy.
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
“Not surprisingly, professionals are well represented among the jobs beginning college students say they hope to get after graduation…” (Macionis, p.385). I am certainly among that demographic, as it is my goal to pursue what would be considered a profession. It is my dream to become an art therapist, a profession which incorporates artwork as a form of therapy. Helping people and having the opportunity to embrace a subject that I love is my dream. According to the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), “A goal in art therapy is to improve or restore a client’s functioning and his or her sense of personal well-being.” For me, it was not all that surprising to learn that art is an exceptional resource for healing and