Art Therapy: How Creative Expression Heals

Many different types of therapy can make a difference in mental health and addiction recovery. Traditional psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) aim to make changes through talk therapy. Another form of treatment is art therapy. Art therapy is a form of therapy that enables clients to use different artistic modalities throughout treatment to make breakthroughs and progress in therapy. Indeed, creative expression heals. Meanwhile, West Coast Recovery Centers offers many other forms of therapy to treat each client in the way that makes the most difference in their lives.

Art therapy can be effective because of its ability to foster emotional expression. Sometimes in treatment, people may feel nervous or closed off. This is normal when you have been struggling alone with struggles for a while. Sometimes therapy can feel unapproachable to new clients. This is because it may feel foreign or difficult to be vulnerable. Art therapy allows a pathway to slowly break down those barriers in a safe way. Artistic creation can take many different forms. If someone is interested in one specific form of creation, art therapy can cater to such individual interests as well.

How Creative Expression Heals: What Is Art Therapy?

As stated in Frontiers in Psychology, art therapy is “a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of expression and communication.” This form of treatment is done by a trained therapist and professional. These providers understand how to use creative expression and art to facilitate the psychotherapeutic process. Art therapy sessions are individualized to help clients develop emotional awareness that will assist them in their healing journey. Moreover, art therapy can consist of many different forms of creative expression. 

Common Forms of Art Therapy

Art therapy can consist of any form of creative expression that helps people open up. Commonly, this may include things such as painting, drawing, or creating collages. Expressing yourself through art allows you to see your emotions from another point of view. This can help people better understand and visualize what they are feeling internally. Creating art allows you to process memories and feelings without having to find the words to name them. Furthermore, this process enhances each person's mind-body connection and assists in whole-person healing. 

Other forms of art therapy may include things like drama therapy, music therapy, and movement therapy. These integrate body and mind to make positive mental health differences in care. For example, drama therapy and music therapy encourage using your voice and your body to open up, which can promote safe outlets for emotional expression and regulation. These outlets for creative expression and their role in the healing process can be especially vital for fostering long-term healing and recovery. 

How Creative Expression Heals Mental Struggles

When you get into treatment, it can be hard to trust anyone. Therapy is an effective tool in working to understand the inner mechanisms of your mind. It is also true that talk therapy forces you to open up, which can be overwhelming to new clients. If opening up is difficult, creative outlets like art therapy can work to break any existing barriers. This happens because of the ability of art to allow expression without words. 

Art allows people to focus on their creativity rather than the pain. At times, therapy will require working through difficult memories and emotions. As you make large-scale changes, you will have to look within yourself. Therapists can help with this introspection and help you make connections that will heal any suppressed pain or distress. With this, art is a successful method of working through mental health issues. Creative expression is a way to make discoveries and look within. 

Furthermore, art can create communities and connections for our clients as they gain a new hobby and skills. This therapy also allows people to form positive associations with self-worth. Seeing the product of your creation and hard work as a piece of art in front of you can be very rewarding. Creative expression promotes self-confidence and can offer individuals a newfound sense of purpose for healing. 

Art Therapy and Long-Term Recovery

Different types of art therapy can be integrated with different forms of treatment. At West Coast Recovery Centers, we aim to make treatment approachable for all of our clients. Our treatment approaches include both holistic and traditional methods of recovery. If treatment is catered to fit the specific needs of each client, it is more effective and worthwhile. 

Creating a life-long habit of a healthy way to deal with feelings through creative expression will help maintain long-term recovery. Staying in recovery and staying healthy means having healthy coping skills to rely on. It also means knowing that you are strong enough to stay healthy and have the confidence to take care of yourself after you leave treatment. 

Art can be an effective way to express yourself when it is hard to open up. Creative expression can make a significant difference in mental health care. Expressing your feelings healthily and creatively can help alleviate the desire to cause yourself harm or use drugs. Art gives an avenue to connect when opening up in therapy is hard. It can give you the confidence necessary to keep yourself in treatment. Art therapy will instill treatment and healthy coping skills in our clients. If you are interested in learning more about art therapy and its benefits, West Coast Recovery Centers can help. Connect with us by calling (760) 492-6509 today to learn more.