In today’s society, adolescents use cell phones and social media to communicate with others. It is becoming rare for teenagers to have face to face conversations. However, for teenagers who are in need of therapy, this is what is expected. This can lead to infrequent therapist visits, or no therapy at all. Therefore, an adolescent therapist must think outside the box, which could include art therapy. Art therapy is one of the best ways to help a struggling adolescent. Art therapy, in layman terms, is a type of therapy that allows the person to “voice” their problems and emotions through drawing, painting, or building something. In “Positive Art Therapy: Linking Positive Psychology to Art Therapy Theory, Practice, and Research”, Rebecca A. Wilkinson claims; “In 2009, we proposed that the principles of positive psychology could and should be incorporated into the art therapy, and that art therapy has unique …show more content…
Many thought that depression could be overcome if a person just tried hard enough or that some just wanted attention. Depression is now considered one of the leading illnesses in the world. Art therapy has been a rather recent addition to the therapy world, starting in the 1940s and 1950s, around the time of World War II. In “The Sociology of Regulation: The Case of Psychotherapy and Counselling and the Experience of the Art Therapies” Diane Waller states; “Art therapy finds its origins in World War II when artists and art teachers began to work in psychiatric hospitals” (Waller, Diane p.6). Art therapy began at a time when depression was being increasingly identified, mostly in soldiers. Many soldiers suffer from trauma, known as posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Art therapy helps soldiers let go of their memories of the war. The techniques that were used during this time with soldiers has been able to be used with other populations, such as
For example, adolescents are often forced into therapy by their parents or school as a result of an inability to cope with stress in a socially acceptable way. Patients at this stage are too old to engage in play therapy, where therapists analyze a child’s behavior during play and when presented with toys. Also, patients acting out during adolescence are often too young to obtain the maturity to verbalize their emotions in a socially acceptable form. Art therapy is useful at this stage of development because similar impulses expressed in play therapy are expressed through drawings, meanwhile not requiring verbal communication. Art therapy introduces the mature defense mechanism of sublimation to the patient, guiding them to achieve better self control as they learn to communicate their impulses through art and talking about their art. A particular form of therapy is managed in groups, and adolescents are encouraged to engage in conversation about their drawings while they are creating them. This creates an environment of low anxiety, allowing patients communicate internal conflict and disregard their normal defense mechanisms that are used to conceal these emotions. The defense mechanism of sublimation is apparent in this process, as the use of color, composition, space and shapes to provide an
People from all around the world suffer from many different anxieties and troubles. They turn to things they enjoy so that they can forget reality and be somewhat happy or simply to communicate with one another. Most of the enjoyment is temporary and not sufficient, that is why they continue doing what they do. Creative Arts Therapy, also known as Expressive Arts Therapy, helps those who find themselves completely lost and have nowhere to go or anyone to go to. They can express themselves however they please. In order to better understand arts therapy one must have a knowledge of creativity, emotions and, of course, people.
I then came across the practice of art therapy. As a child, I've had a love for drawing and art, and I never really grew out of it. I saw art therapy as a wonderful opportunity for me since I found this both an enjoyable and useful study. I became interested in art therapy because it serves as a creative outlet for me to help people by applying what I love for them. I believe art therapy can help troubling patients because it connects with troubling patients at
My vision of Art Therapy was very vague. I always thought art therapy was a form of therapy for distressed or abused children trying to tell a story through pictures or drawings. The American Art Therapy Association defines art therapy as a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well being of individuals of all ages. Art therapy is a form psychotherapy that has been practiced for over sixty years and it has been promoted as a means of helping people who find it difficult to express themselves verbally (Crawford, et al., 2010). Art therapy sessions usually start with a form of relaxation such as deep breathing , progressive muscle relaxation, or setting an intention for the session ahead (Hart, 2010). Art therapy is used for several different types of people with diverse illnesses such as: Autism Spectrum Disorder, people living with HIV/AIDS, mental disorders and even Cancer. Studies show that art therapy can lead to increased self awareness of self, as well as improved ability to cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences (American Art Therapy Association). This form of therapy helps these patients express positive feelings that may not be easy to access in the midst of a fear provoking experience (Hart, 2010). Art therapy help people to identify their feelings, and resolve the issues associated with their illness. Although, my lack of knowledge on this therapeu...
In the world there are many illnesses and conditions that need therapy. When people think of therapy they may think of the typical methods: speech, physical, vocational, and behavioral therapy. Most people do not think of music therapy. Music has a high impact on the body and brain. There have been traces of music therapy dating back to the Greek philosophers proving that it has been around longer than many other forms of therapy (Graf). Growing steadily, music therapy is recognized in the 1700s and is more prominent today than it has ever been. As the therapy becomes more well-known, the quality of the therapy gets better because of the high standards, requirements and codes. Music therapy is little-known but it is highly-effective and acceptable. It has been around for a long amount of time and the qualifications of a music therapist are very high due to the standards set. Music has a great influence on the body and brain.
Throughout history there have been countless souls who were willing to challenge the norm of their everyday life. These individuals work towards change, help those around them, and strive for a better tomorrow. One individual who has been recognized as such was Shirley Riley. Riley was a prominent art therapist during her lifetime. This paper will discuss Riley’s professional career as well as her personal and fairly private life.
Physical therapy is always full of surprises, from new advancements in technology to new and improved therapeutic techniques. Although there are fun games and new technology that physical therapists can do with patients, the main struggle for physical therapists is to motivate their patients to complete their therapy exercises both in the clinic and in the outside world. This problem is very frustrating because the doctors who work at the clinic constantly push patients to complete their therapy so that they can heal; however, when patients are stubborn and reluctant to their treatment, yet constantly complain of pain, doctors must spend more time convincing them to do the therapy rather than completing the therapy itself.
Kramer, Edith. “The Art Therapists Third Hand: Reflections on Art, Art Therapy, and Society at Large.” American Journal of Art Therapy Feb. 1986: 71-86.
Art therapy began as a natural extension of Freud’s groundbreaking psychoanalytic theories at the turn of the last century. Psychiatrists discovered that visual arts could be used as a tool of assessment, and by the 1940s art was being used not only for assessment, but also in therapeutic applications (Junge, 2010). Two main branches evolved from these early years: art as therapy and art psychotherapy.
Pierson, M., & Wilson, H. (2009). Exploring Art as Therapy. In Using Expressive Arts to Work with Mind, Body, and Emotions: Theory and Practice (pp. 202-222). Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsly Publishers.
The United States has a yearly estimate of thirteen to twenty percent of children with a mental disorder (Losinski, Hughey,& Maag, 2016). Youth with emotional and behavioral disorder (EBD) are often defined as, “All children with transient or chronic mental health issues” (Losinski et. al, 2016). Youth exhibiting EMD may experience loneliness, interacting in social situation, controlling outbursts in the classroom, and expressing how they feel. Youth with EBD can benefit from the involvement in art therapy in a safe environment with assistance from art teachers, counselors, and social workers.
Trauma, as defined by the American Psychological Association, is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. In order to process and overcome a traumatic experience, most seek a therapist. This is especially true for individuals who have dealt with childhood sexual abuse. There are different types of therapy and therapists that exist that individuals go to. Art therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that uses art as it’s main technique of communications in order to improve the emotional and mental well being of the patients. It combines the areas of human development, visual art such as drawing, sculpture, painting and other kinds of art and the artistic process with counseling and psychotherapy.
Art can benefit the unhealthy as well. With 34,000 soldiers coming back from Afghanistan as proposed by Barack Obama, there are many who consequently have mental disabilities or post-traumatic stress disorder. To cope with depression, or other symptoms, many doctors have used art programs...
The Life Of Music Therapy Music Therapy is a clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individual goals. Music therapy gives people a relaxed and peaceful vibe. Not many people know about music therapy, but here is a few interesting aspects: who can benefit from music therapy, what is the most common type of music in music therapy, what is the future music therapy. Music therapy is and can be a healing tool for many purposes, it utilizes the power of music to communicate with human emotions and affect well being, although there are several different types identified in the world today.