WHAT IS
ART THERAPY?
Therapeutic art offers another healing strategy. Some studies indicate that art encourages creative thinking and critical thinking skills and helps to relieve stress and anxiety. According to Everyday Health, the Benefits
of Art Therapy can be significant.
Because art has been proven to positively impact people’s lives, an
entire professional discipline has developed to help people use art as therapy.
BENEFITS
OF ART THERAPY
There are so
many benefits of art therapy. First, it provides a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to express themselves freely through
various artistic mediums. It allows them to channel their emotions, thoughts,
and experiences in ways that words alone may not capture.
Engaging in
the creative artmaking process has been found to promote emotional healing.
Art therapy helps individuals explore and process difficult emotions such as
grief, trauma, anxiety, or depression. By externalizing these emotions through
art, individuals can gain distance that enables them to examine and work
through their feelings more effectively.
Art therapy, with its focus on mindfulness and relaxation, inspires people to be present in
the moment and focus their attention on the creative process. It helps reduce
stress and promote relaxation in a way that is grounding and fosters a sense of
calmness and tranquility.
Holistic
healing and wellness involve integrating mind, body, and spirit; art therapy recognizes this interconnectedness. Through the creative process during
art therapy, individuals engage in a holistic approach to their healing to find balance within themselves. By unlocking self-expression,
promoting emotional healing, cultivating mindfulness, and integrating mind,
body, and spirit, art therapy provides a powerful tool for achieving holistic
wellness. Whether you're an artist or a novice, the creative process in art
therapy can open doors to new possibilities and a deeper connection with
oneself.
RESOURCE: American Art Therapy Association
