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Art Therapy
Creative healing: how it works and who can benefit

Art is a powerful way to communicate. For thousands of years, it has influenced people, inspiring the imagination, telling stories, recording history and stirring emotions.

Valuable self-expression
Many people feel the need to express themselves, not just for enjoyment, but to identify and deal with pain. Art therapy is a very creative way to deal with stress, illness, physical, mental or emotional trauma, addiction, and other concerns.

More and more people are learning about healing through art. Many clubs and organizations are popping up across the country. But an art therapy career is still fairly rare, with room for further growth in this beneficial profession.

How and where it works
Art therapists use a wide range of arts including music, drama, drawing and painting. They are found in some schools, hospitals, halfway houses, community centers, shelters and art studios. They may work privately or with a team of nurses and physicians.

Besides having great compassion, these creative therapists encourage discussion as well as self-expression. They are trained to evaluate a patients’ emotional stability and recognize if further therapy is needed.

Art therapy can help with a wide range of problems, both physical and psychological.

Creating art helps because patients draw on their imaginations to deal with conflict. Research shows that art helps the immune system and promotes well-being. According to the Hartford Hospital website, their research shows that stress levels of their patients went down after various art therapy treatments.

The role of patients
For patients, their choice of art is very important. Through something they love, whether it is painting, sculpting, sketching or crafts, the pain inside reduces.

Many patients enjoy and find value in this kind of therapy because verbal expression cannot always describe a particular emotion. Art may show many layers of meaning. It can bring valuable insights into your personal challenges.

Food for thought
Many people think alternative medicine, including art therapy, is valuable for helping heal a wide range of problems. For years, people have turned to holistic methods to heal the mind, body and soul. The practice of art, yoga and meditation are now common. The more choices we have, the more ways we can heal ourselves and others.
 

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by Denessa Bachelor, Hearts & Minds volunteer intern
Copyrights: Entire website © 1997 - 2007 by Hearts and Minds Network, Inc., This web page - http://www.heartsandminds.org/self/art.htm - November 15, 2006, latest changes November 15, 2006

 

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