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Vital points to know when going for art therapy

If you are considering going for art therapy, there are some important points to note. When you are armed with the necessary knowledge, you will know what to expect from art therapy.

You don’t need artistic prowess

When coming in for art therapy, your artistic prowess isn’t considered. Anyone can benefit from art therapy without being an artistic genius or maestro.

This is why even children or old people can take part in this treatment process. The essence of art therapy is to boost your mental health in the long run and not to test your artistic abilities.

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Art therapy is not an art class

It is crucial to note that art therapy does not train you to become a better artist. This is what art classes are meant for. Art therapy allows you to focus on your inner experience and express them in your most preferred way.

On the other hand, art class teaches you how to go from zero to a hundred as an artist, allowing you to know how to create a finished product.  

When creating art during art therapy, you can focus on your imagination, feelings, and perceptions.

It can take place in different settings

Art therapy can hold in various places. Some of these locations are art studios, community centers, hospitals, homeless shelters, wellness centers, residential treatment centers, schools, mental health offices, etc.

It might not work for everyone

Even though art therapy can help anyone recover from a wide range of mental health problems plaguing them, it might not be effective for everyone.

This is because some people believe that their lack of creativity might hinder them from getting the best out of the program. Therefore, they are likely to be resistant to the healing process that comes with art therapy.

If you think you might benefit from art therapy or you know someone who will, it is important to make your research on where to go.

Important aspects of art therapy

Art therapy is the use of artistic methods to improve mental health. These methods are effective in treating psychological disorders.

Over the years, different studies have shown that art therapy can help people deal with mental illnesses and promote healing.

It is important to note that not everyone with a mental health problem can express themselves through speaking.

Some of them find it easier to use different aspects of art for expression and healing. This is one of the many reasons why art therapy is becoming more popular among the assessment and treatment methods of art therapy.

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Painting

This is one of the common aspects of art therapy which involves image creation on an empty canvas. You can also use some tools to manipulate images. Some of the common features in this aspect are watercolors, acrylic paints, spray painting, etc.

Drawing

When it comes to drawing, it involves using any item to undergo simple mark marking. Some of the supplies that you can use for drawing are pastels, pencils, charcoal, crayon, and pens.

Most people are familiar with some of these supplies, so they will encounter little or no problems when they are using them.

Writing

This is another familiar aspect of art therapy. Some people prefer to put down how they are feeling in art therapy through writing. Some of the outlets under this aspect are story-boarding, journaling, and comics. With certain keywords, clients can express themselves.

Sculpture

Sculpturing is an important aspect of art therapy that clients can use to recover fast from mental illnesses. It gives the individual the chance to construct and shape their environment. Some of the supplies used in sculpturing are clay, paper mache, etc.

Other aspects of art therapy include collage, photography, textiles, digital, etc. When it comes to any of these types of art therapy, you don’t have to be an expert.

The goal is to use your preferred method to express yourself. Moreso, the therapists are well-trained to interpret your output and use it to guide you to healing.

THE CONCEPT OF ART THERAPY

Art therapy is a quintessential aspect of experiential therapy that looks to cater for the mental, physical and emotional needs of clients, and this can be attained via creative or physical activity.

Art therapy is a form of treatment that presents you the chance to enjoy yourself while undergoing treatment, giving it the outlook of a 2-in-1 package.

Art therapy was not common before but recently, people have preferred this form of therapy treatment to other available ones. And one of the reasons why art therapy is proficient is because it addresses the complicated aspects of a rehab.

With the plethora of creative activities that go on during art therapy, it is one proficient way to deal with healthcare problems like addiction, mental health problems and a host of others. People have gone through challenging trauma of various sorts and they find it difficult to vocalize their experiences.

This is one of the reasons why some of them would prefer to keep to themselves, rather than open up to someone. An art therapy session usually kicks off with a counselor.

The individual would be thoroughly assessed by the counselor and this evaluation would be used during the therapy session.

During the assessment with the counselor, the individual would be introduced to the various aspects of art therapy. There and then, the individual might decide to opt for any of them, or rather wait till they are fully enrolled in the rehab.

The counseling stage is not one to be missed because it is very insightful.

During the counseling stage, individuals are assisted to discover themselves and the root cause of their addiction or mental health problem. Also, the counseling stage is the point where they accept their health problem.

Activities such as Painting, Dancing, Drawing, Sculpting, Acting, Poetry, Music and the likes, all take place during art therapy.

To wrap it up, it is safe to say that art therapy helps an individual achieve a healthy state of body and mind.

THE EFFICACY OF ART IN MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

Art plays a pivotal role in the treatment of mental health and those who have used it can testify to its efficacy. As against the conventional mindset that you need to be skillful in arts before you join, art in mental health treatment does not need you to be skillful. All you need do is follow the directives of the therapist and you are good to go.

The use of art to treat mental health treatment is referred to as art therapy, and anyone can decide to partake in this. The essence of art therapy is for people to show their painful emotions and feelings without having to vocalize them. This is why there is no need for prior art skills.

There are individuals who have undergone really painful experiences in life that have affected their mental health to a large extent. These people would prefer not to talk about it, and the only way to get them share their experiences is to practice art.

In art therapy, there are several practices you can decide to do. You can opt for writing, dancing, painting, sculpting and a host of others. Irrespective of the one you opt for, the end-results are all the same thing; your mental health would be better than before.

Art therapy is one of the best steps you can take that would make you see the world with a positive outlook. There are people who have given up on life because of past experiences, and one of the best ways to help them is to opt for art therapy.

The interesting part is, you can practice this craft even after leaving rehab. The basic idea behind art therapy is to equip you with skills that would make you cope effectively with any challenge that life throws at you.

In fact, it is one of the best ways to be clean and sober after leaving a rough life. The benefits are large and immense and they help in getting an individual back on track.

ARTS AS AN EFFECTIVE REHAB THERAPY

Art therapy is a form of treatment which deals with substance abuse. It is a therapeutic practice whereby clients who are guided by the art therapist, make use of the creative process and pattern, the art media and artwork in further expressing their feelings. It is also essential in mending emotional conflicts, aiding self-improvement, managing behaviour and controlling addictions.

In addition to this, social skills are developed, reality orientation is improved, anxiety is reduced, and self-esteem is drastically reduced. Those who have been victims of chronic pain, cancer, disturbing brain injury and the likes, are known to have gotten better due to Art therapy.

One of the basic aims of art therapy, is to ensure that patients are fit to express their emotions via art, probably because they are too grieved to talk. Hence, there are art therapists who work with patients to ensure that they take part in practices such as painting, sketching and drawing.

In a broad setting, art therapy can be practiced, and this includes: Outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation programmes, schools, hospitals, doctors’ offices and the likes. Looking at addiction which stems from substance abuse, art therapy is quintessential, as it forms the treatment core of a customized rehabilitation pattern.

In addition to this, art therapy is also important when it comes to post-treatment recovery, and there are various resources which the post-treatment recovery can present themselves.

Arts therapy avails you the opportunity of discovering yourself, as it allows you to reach your subconscious level, and with time, you would come to realize the major cause of any form of addiction which is plaguing you. Once this is discovered, you can be sure that the arts therapist would assist you in ensuring that you combat the addiction, and break free from it eventually.

When you complete each project during your art therapy, there is usually a sense of victory and accomplishment which comes with it. Hence, you would be able to integrate this confidence into other facets of your treatment, and eventually your life.

Conclusively, art therapy ensures that you feel like a kid one more time, and when this is achieved, you can be sure that your treatment process is completed. Art therapy has been proven to assist in relieving stress and reducing anxiety, taking hold of these benefits would do you a whole lot of good.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ARTS IN TREATING ADDICTION

THE IMPORTANCE OF ARTS IN TREATING ADDICTION

Arts therapy is a form of expressive therapy, which encourages the use of art-making to improve the emotional well-being of an individual. It is utilized based on the belief that the creative process which is integrated in the artistic self-expression, aids people in resolving conflicts and gaining access to their emotions. It also helps them to develop their interpersonal skills, and properly manage their behaviours.

Also, arts therapy has been seen to greatly reduce stress, and develop their self-esteem, whilst granting insight. Popular examples of art therapy include: stress painting, incident drawing, sculpting emotions amongst others.

At rehabilitation centres, arts therapy is often used to assist individuals in communicating their emotions in a manner where they would not have to be verbal. Generally speaking, there are two categories of art therapy, and they are: art as therapy and art psychotherapy. Both forms of therapy are utilized by art therapists in effectively treating addiction, because it assists patients in achieving insights and healing.

Art as therapy emphasizes that the making of art is a therapeutic process, this is because it gives patients an opportunity in fully expressing themselves in an imaginative and authentic way, and with time it would assist them in gaining mastery over any form of addiction which is plaguing them.

The other category of art therapy which is art psychotherapy, is hinged on the idea that art is a form of symbolic communication. Art psychotherapy explains the end product which is used by a therapist and is used to monitor the progress made in treatment.

In the course of recovery, it could be difficult for some people to speak out concerning their painful thoughts or their addiction struggle. Art psychotherapy gives a substitute form of expression. This method is known to assist patients in self-discovery, and eventually self-acceptance.

Expressive therapies, which is a mother-category where arts therapy belongs to, can be said to be an excellent tool which individuals would need on the road to recovery. Art therapy helps an individual to express his emotions in many ways other than talking.

What Constitutes As Visual Art?

When asked this question, many oftentimes have varying answers, as one particular art form may come to mind—such as; painting, drawing, etc. In turn, the genre that the individual chooses is usually based on what he/she has the most experience with—and/or knowledge of prior. However, this can cause confusion for those who are unaware of the differing art forms—and/or categories of each one. Only some—among many—are listed as follows; 1. ceramics, 2. drawing, 3. painting, 4. sculpture, 5. printmaking, 6. design, and 7. crafts. These forms are all created primarily for visual perception, and allow artists to express themselves in a variety of ways.

First and foremost is ceramics, “an art made from ceramic materials—such as clay—that can take several forms, including art ware, tile, figurines, sculpture, and tableware”. Second is drawing, in which “a person uses various drawing instruments to mark paper, or another two-dimensional medium. Instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, paints, inked brushes, wax colored pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, erasers, markers, styluses, and various metals”. Third is painting, which is “the practice of applying paint, pigment, color, or another medium to a solid surface”.

Fourth is sculpture, which is where “a wide variety of materials may be worked by removal—such as carving, assembled by welding or modelling, or molded or casted”. Fifth is printmaking, which is “the process of creating artworks by printing, normally on paper. The prints have an elements of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting, and are created by transferring ink from a matrix—or through a prepared screen—to a sheet of paper or other material”. Sixth is design, which is “the intentional creation of a plan or specification for the construction of an object or system, or for the implementation of an activity or process”. And last is crafts, which is “a pastime, or a profession, that requires particular skills, and knowledge of skilled work”.

In conclusion, it is important to know—not just one form of visual art—but all. For, we as humans use each to communicate with one another, throughout history—whether it be through personal expression of the artist, symbolism, narrative purposes, to convey a message, and/or to portray the beauty of the piece itself. As a result, we are able to better understand what has taken place in that of a particular era—and come together, both artists and non-artists alike, through that which is expressed in visual art.

The Seven Principles Of Art

Once a developing artist begins to understand the seven elements of art, he/she may then find himself/herself wanting to further perfect that of his/her craft—as there is always room for improvement. It is through doing so, that he/she may find himself/herself wondering as to what he/she can do to make his/her piece stand out visually. This is where the seven principles of art come into play, which are listed as follows; 1. Rhythm, 2. Balance, 3. Emphasis, 4. Proportion, 5. Harmony, 6. Variety, and 7. Movement. Through the mastering of each of these techniques, those who are practicing the arts, are not only able to understand the importance of each, but to witness it first hand.

First and foremost is rhythm, “a principle of design that indicates movement, created by the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat”. Second is balance, which is “a way of combining elements to add a feeling of equilibrium or stability to a work of art”. Third is emphasis, which is “a way of combining elements to stress the differences between those elements”. Fourth is proportion, “a principle of design that refers to the relationship of certain elements to the whole and to each other”.

Fifth is harmony, which is “a way of combining similar elements in an artwork to accent their similarities”. Sixth is variety, which is “a principle of design concerned with diversity or contrast—achieved by using different shapes, sizes, and colors”. And last is movement, which is “a principle of design used to create the look/feeling of action, and to guide the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art”.

As a result of these principles, those who are in the process of learning art are able to better understand how to put the pieces together visually—and gain further knowledge as to the effect of each. In combination with the elements of art, individuals may find themselves developing their own unique style, as they gain more experience—and comfortability—with each principle. It is then that one can achieve the effect that he/she wants—within his/her work—with precision and ease. In conclusion, rhythm, balance, emphasis, proportion, harmony, variety, and movement all serve as a guide for both experienced artists, as well as beginners. It is through such that a wide range of individuals are able to create and analyze art, as well as discuss it with others.h

The Seven Elements Of Art

Oftentimes, a wide range of people—will view a piece that impacts them to a certain degree—by bringing about a particular mood or emotion. Yet even so, those who have very little knowledge in regards to art—will consequently “see” the visual, without first seeing the underlying components which make up such. In turn, while these seven elements may be disregarded by the eyes of others—they fail to go unnoticed by the general artist body—and are listed as follows; 1. Color, 2. Form. 3. Line, 4. Shape, 5. Space, 6. Texture, and 7. Value. It is through two or more of these aspects that artists are able to communicate a deeper meaning—and/or understanding—to that of their audience, which might be hidden beneath the work itself.

First and foremost is line, which is “defined by a point moving in space. It may be two or three dimensional, descriptive, implied, or abstract”. Second is shape, “an element of art that is two-dimensional, flat, or limited to height and width”. Third is form, which “encloses volume, and includes height, width, and depth. In addition, it may also be free flowing”. Fourth is value, which focuses on “the lightness or darkness of tones or colors. White being the lightest, and black being the darkest”. Fifth is space, in which “positive and negative areas are defined, or a sense of depth achieved in a work of art”. Sixth is color, “an element made up of three properties being hue, value, and intensity”. And last is texture, which “refers to the way things feel, or look”.

As a result, it is through these elements that both artists—and non-artists alike—can find the importance in not only their own work, but in the work of others. For example, as one begins to examine in detail the constitution—or structure—of a piece, he/she may find himself/herself being able to interpret what is taking place, through the elements that are being used within that particular work.

In conclusion, art can be both influential—and/or essential—but even more so, when one begins to decipher what is being expressed through the hand of the artist. For instance, some art may be created with the intent to affect social issues, and may therefore be difficult to look at—while some art may be beautiful, as well as hard to look away from. In turn, no matter the form of art, these seven elements allow a wide range of individuals to appreciate art to its fullest degree—no matter the message.