As an art therapist and artist, I have experienced the healing power of art-making. Art is one means of exploring and expressing our humanity. There is a difference between 'art in therapy', 'art as therapy', and 'art therapy'. The process of each endeavour is helpful, and I encourage creative expression for anyone.
I will share a little about Art Therapy and Expressive Therapies here.
Art Therapy provides a means of expressing thoughts and feelings that does not rely solely on words. Art therapy engages the mind, body, and spirit in ways that are distinct from verbal expression alone. Words can be limiting; so much more can be expressed and communicated through the use of image. Sensory, perceptual, and symbolic opportunities invite alternative modes of tapping into healing and wellness.
An Art Therapist supports the process of healing, at times as guide, and other times as witness. The artwork provides a tangible expression to explore in therapy, and one can return to it time and time again. Meaning making can happen in the process of creating art, as well as through exploration with a trained Art Therapist. One does not have to have artistic skill for Art Therapy to be effective; only engagement with the process is needed.
Art Therapy has a lovely way of accessing underlying feelings, perceptions, yearnings, and solutions.
Art Therapy and other Expressive Therapies
Creates a sense of safety
Facilitates relationship building and supports healthy attachment
Doesn’t require talking, though is not a “non-verbal approach”
Reduces defenses and guardedness
Externalizes ‘the problem’
Offers different perspectives through use of metaphor
Provides a tangible marker of expression, experience, intention, change
Aids in neurodevelopment, integrates mind-body connections
Provides unique opportunities for expression and communication
Promotes self-regulation, grounding and mindfulness
Is Culturally sensitive
Builds resilience
Art Therapy and an expressive arts approach supports the development of trust, and safety, and offers a way of expression and communication that does not rely on words alone. The created image is a foundation for expression, self-exploration, and understanding.
Trauma-informed Expressive Therapy approaches are particularly helpful for individuals who are impacted by pre-verbal trauma. Preverbal trauma refers to trauma that a child experiences in early childhood before and or during speech and language development, usually from birth to three years of age.
Profound change can happen by accessing the non-verbal, implicit, right-brain through metaphor and expressive therapeutic approaches
Art and Play can calm the fear response. It is primarily a mechanism for seeking safety and is a way to create connection as well as to disconnect and differentiate. Art and Play promote the growth of neurotransmitters in the amygdala (where emotions get processed), and the prefrontal cortex (where executive decisions are processed).
Expressive, creative and culturally appropriate approaches in therapy facilitate healing from early trauma.
There are many ways of accessing the internal world in order to tap into one's healing capacity:
Sensory (body-oriented), Images (imagined or tangible), Behaviour (action), Affect (feeling), and Meaning-making.
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