Art Therapy And Mental Illness

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Art therapists believe that through creative expression and by evoking one’s imaginative abilities a person can live a greater life of physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Depending on the patient’s strengths and interests, certain art therapies may include any combination of dance, drama, music, writing, embroidery, and the visual arts (drawing, painting, sculpting and photography).

Through these expressive mediums it has been shown that patients become better at reducing stress, managing behavior, developing interpersonal relationships, increasing self-esteem and self-awareness, improving problem-solving and other cognitive faculties, as well as achieving insight.

The arts have probably been used as a source of healing ever since they have come into existence; but art therapy did not emerge as a distinct profession until the 1940s where psychotherapists began to take interest in the creative output of those with mental illnesses (such as the famous Mexican artist Martin Ramirez who was diagnosed with schizophrenia) as well as those on psychedelic drugs (such as this government-mandated study on LSD).

Recently there has been a new Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) program at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany which includes art therapy techniques mixed with yoga, anger management, cognitive processing therapy and other treatments.

More amazingly, PBS’ Wide Angle, Focal Point documentary did a segment on how art therapy has even been used to reform terrorists (out of over 200 patients who have completed the program only 5% have relapsed!):

FOR MORE RESOURCES ON ART THERAPY PLEASE CHECK OUT:

Interview with schizophrenic patient and art therapist on WebMD

American Art Therapy Association

Academic Journal Of The AATA

Find A Credentialed Art Therapist

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Tags: Creativity, Imagination, Meaning, Mental Health, Psychology, Rituals, Therapy

Creativity, Psychology | Steven Handel August 27, 2009

9 Comments to “Art Therapy And Mental Illness”

By Annaly, December 21, 2009 @ 10:13 am

I’ve been looking for some good information on art therapy. Sadly it doesn’t seem many people blog about it. Thanks for the great tips.
By Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, ATR-BC, LPCC, January 19, 2010 @ 8:00 pm

All those interested in art therapy, here are two resources:

International Art Therapy Organization– a dozen resource pages, a free e-zine, and multiple updates via Facebook, LinkedIn, and email. And how did this wonderful blog miss our wonderful website? http://www.internationalarttherapy.org.

Check out my blog on Psychology Today, The Healing Arts, http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-healing-arts– all the latest on art therapy and arts in healthcare.

Best wishes,

Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPAT, LPCC, board certified and licensed art therapist
By Renee, January 19, 2010 @ 9:58 pm

This is a great blog and entry. As director of Manhattan Arts International since 1980 and co-curator of Celebrate The Healing Power of Art I would like have your permission to post a link to your blog from the Manhattan Arts website. Please learn more about us at http://www.manhattanarts.com/Gallery/HealingPowerofArt_2010/index.htm or our blog at http://healingpowerofart.blogspot and let me know if this is possible. Thank you.
By payday advances, February 8, 2010 @ 1:54 pm

I have heard from so many people art therapy is so good for you. I mean everyone knows just listening to Mozart while you are working can help make you remember things better so I am sure art therapy works amazing.