Art & Healing – How They Work Together
Healing is a personal process that takes time to engage in. Art is a great therapeutic way of processing past hurts and opening ourselves up to the possibility of change. When we consider how art and creative movements can positively impact our mental health outcome, it is not a surprise more people are engaging in it in therapy today. Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
The history of art being used in story telling is found around the world in many cultures such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome, as well as indigenous groups like the Navajo and Inca among many more. However, the utilization of art and healing was not popularized until the 20th century after World War II. When we begin to recognize that we can have a long history of story telling through art mediums we can see how healing takes place. The reason I bring this up is because many of us as therapists recognize that knowing our history, our ancestors, and our life experiences bring us healing along with deeper self awareness. We are going to explore the purpose of art in our lives and how to engage in this therapeutic process.
Art therapy uses the process of creation to help improve our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. We can use items like clay, paint, or chalk to explore our emotions, move through conflict and enhance our sense of self. I want people to remember that this is not about artistic skill but about using a tool for the healing process. This therapy modality can be used with all ages from kids to elderly folks. Children might use art therapy to express their anxiety when their words can’t explain or with our aging population can use art to work on fine motor skills, reflection and remembering stories. We can also use art therapy as a way to engage in understanding ourselves and becoming kinder to ourselves.
When considering what a typical art therapy session looks like we should consider the beginning stages as not necessarily doing art right away, but building up safety and trust in the therapeutic relationship. When first starting this process you and your therapist will work on understanding your comfort level with art. If you are unsure or feel uncomfortable you may start by making a collage, doing a sand tray, creating a virtual art piece or just coloring in a coloring sheet. This is a way to build safety with expression, being known and recognizing this is not about how beautiful the art is but how true it is to you. Having images to select from can ease our way in with understanding how to describe our emotions or settings when first starting. As you build comfort with being seen or “witnessed” then you can begin to move into other art forms based on your comfort and the resources available.
Art therapy can help in many different ways, but one of my favorite parts about it is the distances you can receive. Being able to put an issue, a feeling or a situation in a third perspective can be liberating, but also help create decisions. When we can begin to create space around the issue it can decrease the frustration or anxiety we have towards it. An art therapist will ask questions like “what was the process like for you” or “what did you notice while making this” because it is less about the outcome but more around the experience. Having the ability to notice that when thinking of a person you picked red paint or cut out an image of a shark might make you consider how you are internalizing those interactions with them. A therapist might notice how your body language shifts at different colors, images, textures and question what memories you are going over. We are focusing on creating meaning in our experiences.
Art therapy might not be for everyone, but it is something everyone should try. It is about being able to find a voice for your emotions when words may fail. You are the one in control of changes and healing with art just being a guide to help create a map on how you get to that new destination. Art therapy wants to bring awareness to core issues, but then gives you the freedom to determine how the painting changes.