Why Art Therapy Is Beneficial?

While art therapy and psychotherapy both have numerous benefits, in recent years the idea of art therapy for mental health has become increasingly popular. Many people often associate it with art forms like painting or sculpture.  

While art therapy is helpful in a variety of ways, its benefits are often misunderstood by those not familiar with its practices. It has been shown that the benefits can be varied and include everything from improving eye contact skills, self-esteem and anxiety, to learning how to deal with depression. 

Art therapy is based on the idea that art and creativity can promote healing in many ways, especially concerning emotional and mental health. In addition to the obvious benefits of painting or sculpting, art therapy helps people work through emotional problems by encouraging them to express their artful side.  

Art therapy for mental health generally involves working with an artist to enhance a person’s art form through the addition painting, drawing and much more of the creative arts. 
 

Children are very familiar with art therapy. They experience an emotional and psychological need to participate in the creative process and the creation of art. This can take the form of playing with art materials, developing repetitive art designs, or simply enjoying being creative.  

All children are also very familiar with the notion of drawing and painting. These experiences make it easier for children to develop a sense of interest and skill in the art but also provide therapy in some way. 

Applications 

Unfortunately, art therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder is not widely used. One of the main reasons for this is that trauma, especially in the form of a traumatic brain injury, often causes intense fear and anxiety.  

If this anxiety is not addressed, it may cause symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and other physical ailments. If art therapy is introduced into the treatment of a traumatic brain injury, it may help reduce these symptoms. 

Of course, when discussing art therapy for a traumatic brain injury, it is important to keep in mind that sessions should be brief, not more than 10 minutes at most. The therapist and patient must first build a level of trust and comfort with one another.  

If the patient is apprehensive, then this “art therapy” will only make him or her feel worse. It should be kept simple and straightforward, allowing the patient to create his or her art, and allowing the therapist to do the same. 

The positive results of art therapy for psychological conditions were most apparent in the treatment of depressive and anxious symptoms in children. In this study, art therapy seemed to help those children with mild cognitive impairment improve their ability to function in social situations.  

Art therapists have also reported improving verbal skills in children with language disorders, as well as improving self-esteem, self-confidence and mood. These positive results of art therapy do make sense. 
 

Visit https://www.mindkshetra.com/ to learn more about applications of art therapy and if a workshop could work for you. 

Studies 

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has published a study published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Neuropsychology and Experimental Psychology indicating that art therapy has the potential to increase attention and focus, improve memory, and decrease the anxiety disorders experienced by stroke and sclerosis patients. The study was conducted by the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Nursing.  

According to the journal article, the researchers studied the effects of art therapy on a group of post-stroke adults suffering from mild cognitive impairment, mild dementia, and severe depression.  

It was found that after seven weeks, these individuals had a significantly improved ability to perform tasks than the placebo group. This study was published in the May 2021 issue of the Journal of Neuropsychology and Experimental Psychology. 

Art therapists also often receive professional training in the therapy field and attend specialized classes in assessment and therapeutic art. So whether you feel like clearing your mind or genuinely have a disorder that holds you back, it’s worth reaching out to a professional art therapist to help with your progress.