Ah, Art! The rainbow to my Perth-sunset living room, the bubble in Benny's joy-filled sprints, the color in Louie's chirpy mornings. Art is in every breath we take, uniting my home in Perth, Australia, and your corner of the world in an exquisite tapestry of human expression. Creative arts therapies navigate this all-encompassing universe of Art by applying artistic expression toward therapeutic goals. Creative arts therapies range from the traditional forms of art therapies involving visual arts, music, dance, and drama to more innovative approaches integrating photography, poetry or digital media. As a lover of art and an ardent supporter of mental health, allow me to take you on a journey exploring these therapies that sharpen minds, warm hearts and elevate spirits.
Beat this – painting a picture could help you battle anxiety. Sounds too beautiful to be true? Welcome to the exquisite world of Art Therapy. At its heart, Art Therapy dilutes the potency of words with a dash of creativity, offering an alternative method to communicate, express and understand emotions. During Art Therapy sessions, individuals create art under the guidance of a professional art therapist. The goal here is not to create a masterpiece, but to let the colors paint a story of the soul. Interestingly, Art Therapy has proven its mettle in dealing with various mental health issues like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and even for people undergoing rehabilitation.
With Benny barking at my feet and Louie singing from his perch, it’s a symphony at home every day. Now, music can create symphonies of healing when used as a therapy. Music Therapy combines the elements of playing instruments, listening to music, singing, and dancing to bolster positive changes in emotional well-being. It is used in a multitude of facilities, from hospitals and schools to nursing homes. Proven to be particularly effective for people suffering from depression, schizophrenia, and autism, it's like the calming lullaby of the evening sky we often miss out on.
Who knew shaking a leg could help shake off mental illness! Dance Movement Therapy is dynamic, liberating, and transformative — it lets an individual's body narrate their life's complex chapters. The philosophy guiding this therapy is that motion and emotion are interconnected. It allows people to express emotions that are often hard to articulate in words. Dance Movement Therapy can be instrumental in managing stress, diseases, and strengthening the mind-body connection.
Imagine Benny enacting how Louie stole his toy, while Louie chirps loudly, his colorful feathers all aflutter. Adorable, right? If drama can help them resolve their 'serious' issues, picture how it can aid us humans! Drama Therapy involves using theatrical techniques to facilitate personal growth and mental well-being. It might incorporate storytelling, projective play, role-playing, and improvisation, imparting richness to the therapeutic journey to recovery.
As technology evolves and societal norms shift, creative arts therapies have adapted and evolved as well. Digital Media Arts Therapy uses digital art, video gaming and virtual reality for therapeutic purposes. Poetry Therapy, where literature meets psychology, utilizes the written word to promote emotional health. The increasingly popular Phototherapy encourages participants to take and analyze photos, facilitating self-expression and understanding. Recently, I’ve picked up my camera, spending hours capturing Benny and Louie’s antics, discovering a refreshing perspective on life – a validation of how innovative art can be.
So, what makes these therapies remarkable? On the surface, they seem like simple activities we engage in for fun or leisure. However, the magic lies in the integration of creativity and psychology. The process of creating art can be a non-threatening, invigorating, and rewarding experience that fosters a safe environment for expressing emotions. Additionally, deciphering the psychology underlying the creative process allows for insights into the individual’s emotional landscape, facilitating therapeutic exploration.
Having witnessed friends and family benefit from creative arts therapies, I can truly affirm their positive influence. A dear friend who had been silenced by anxiety found expressive freedom through art therapy. Another friend, struggling with self-esteem issues, discovered a sense of worth and empowerment through Dance Movement Therapy. However, one of the most heartening stories was that of an acquaintance's autistic son who discovered his voice through music therapy, touching chords of connection that extended beyond the realm of words. These stories serve as living testimonials, charging the world with hope and optimism for mental health.
In a nutshell, creative arts therapies are a genre of mental health treatments that beautifully marry the universal language of art with the science of psychology. They underscore the principle that healing doesn't have to be a rigorous, clinical process – it can be a playful and profound exploration of self, guided by creativity and compassion.
So, tap into that fountain of latent talent. Draw out those emotions, compose your symphony of healing or craft your dramatic comeback from mental illness. And as you embark on this journey, remember that we all have that spark within us, waiting to paint the canvas of our life with colors of recovery. With Benny snoring beside me and Louie still singing his song, remember, the rhythm of healing lies within all of us. All we need is the courage to listen to it, dance to it, and embrace it wholeheartedly!
Written by Laurel Thompson
View all posts by: Laurel Thompson