More about Art Therapy
Releasing the expectation of using precise vocabulary and technical language, people who engage in art therapy are guided to express their emotions and thoughts (conscious and subconscious) through art. By changing the medium of expression, from words to art modalities, it is possible to change one’s thought process in order to expand thinking and perspective.
There is increasing evidence in rehabilitation medicine and the field of neuroscience that art enhances brain function by impacting brain wave patterns, emotions, and the nervous system. Art can also raise serotonin levels. These benefits don't just come from making art, they also occur by experiencing art.
Traditional talk-therapy is also a challenge for individuals who have experienced trauma and have a difficult time verbalizing their experience. As an alternative, art therapy offers the space to explore and process the feelings, memories, and effects of trauma in their creations. A key goal in art therapy is to improve or restore the client's functioning and his/her sense of personal well being.
The term "art" includes not only drawing/painting, but also all forms of artistic expression such as sculpture, ceramic, collage, music, dance, drama, photography, writing and poetry, and even gardening and cooking. You will work with your art therapist to decide which types of art-making will be most beneficial to you.
(I am an art therapist, and not a clinical psychologist/counselor. If you are seeking a professional mental health support, I would be happy to refer to someone in the field.)