12/21/2012

Art As A Form Of Psychological Therapy

By John Cunningham


The art making process has always been a therapeutic way for people to express themselves creatively. The ability to create freely and without restraint has been shown to reduce stress in people dealing with emotional trauma. It has also allowed many people to strengthen their critical thinking and analytical abilities, which is something that is useful in other areas of life.

Art therapy made use of in psychological counseling is a lot more concentrated on the emotional, behavioral, and psychological development of individuals. It is meant as a leisure activity, though it might be beneficial for individuals who take part in it. Art therapy serves as a primary mode of communication for individuals that could be experiencing life threatening diseases or serious neurological conditions.

One goal that this psychological treatment aims to achieve is to increase awareness of the self and others. This will help people cope with their symptoms in order to enhance their cognitive abilities. Ultimately, the activity is utilized to give medical professionals a better understanding of patients while at the same time providing patients with a form of healing therapy.

In the therapeutic process, art is not limited to only drawing or painting. Many patients are sometimes involved in sculpting and photography. Many visual art mediums can be implemented, but there are usually no instances of dance, music, or drama. Art therapy focuses on communication without the use of words or language. Visual art can also serve as a great form of communication for people dealing with mental illnesses.

Throughout a typical session, the main focus is usually on producing art from the patient's creative imagination. Art therapist seek to understand a person's inner world which could not be so easily expressed through other approaches of interaction. In some cases, clients will be taught a new skill that is art related only if it helps with the psychological counseling process.

The art works that are produced by clients are assessed by medical professionals and mental healthcare specialists. The emotional, cognitive, and behavioral conditions of a person are assessed and interpreted to better comprehend a patient. Sometimes, the artistic task is integrated into an assessment test. One evaluation examination that is typically administered is the Diagnostic Drawing Series. This test requires the patient to make three drawings within a particular time limit.

Art therapy is utilized in a variety of settings for many different reasons. Since there are so many benefits that come from art therapy, more hospitals and institutions have art classes available to help people dealing with a various range of problems. The process has been successful in treating people who suffer from depression, are incarcerated, are addicted to drugs, or have been diagnosed with cancer.

The advantages of this healing activity are readily available to all kinds of individuals. Art therapy can also be a wonderful preventive tool against many bad habits that could develop due to extreme anxiety or depression.




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