For some people traditional methods of therapy may not work. They may be resistant and find it hard to talk about difficult issues. In some cases it may be because they are not confident with their verbal skills. In other instances it may be because they do not want to verbally communicate and this instance an art therapist may work as either an additional therapy or as an alternative to a more traditional discussion with a patient.
It has been known for some time that people suffering from mental, social or emotional problems often expressed themselves through drawing or other forms of art. Indeed a lot of people rightly or wrongly associate creativity with a different kind of mental perspective. It was only until the mid twentieth century that mental health professionals began to develop a formal frame work that would come to be defined as art therapy.
The first thing to understand with this kind of therapy is that it does not necessarily require the client to be a creative person. You do not need incredible artistic skill in order to illustrate feelings. Often the act of creating something and explaining the context of what you have created can be enough.
In effect the idea is that anyone being treated has an equal chance of receiving a positive benefit from the treatment. It may be applied in different ways such as part of their rehabilitation or as a form of psychotherapy. However the act itself is often enough to get people thinking beyond what they would normally talk about with their friends, family and even sometimes illustrate more than they would be able to discuss verbally with a therapist.
With art therapy it is possible to get people to open up through creative work. Whether it is through painting, sculpture or some other form of art it is possible for a patient to focus on the creative work rather than having to verbalise it. Indeed in a lot of cases the very act of creativity itself can release stress and be therapeutic.
A therapist in this field will be trained in both art and in therapy. This will allow them to professionally supervise the creative process but also keep in mind the purpose of the exercise. Often someone working on a piece will not realise the subconscious symbols in their work.
The process can benefit a wide array of clients. It can often be useful to encourage children or adults with learning disabilities, both in terms of expressing themselves and as a means of improving their self confidence. It can also be an effective method for children or adults who have suffered a severe trauma and may otherwise find it hard to verbally discuss events that cause them a lot of stress.
There are a number of independent therapists and professionals who are part of treatment units. You can find out more about services in your local area by looking online as well as getting recommendations from patients or carers that have used their services in the past. If you are willing to look help is available and even patients who have had severe problems can learn to cope with the right treatment or combination of treatments.
It has been known for some time that people suffering from mental, social or emotional problems often expressed themselves through drawing or other forms of art. Indeed a lot of people rightly or wrongly associate creativity with a different kind of mental perspective. It was only until the mid twentieth century that mental health professionals began to develop a formal frame work that would come to be defined as art therapy.
The first thing to understand with this kind of therapy is that it does not necessarily require the client to be a creative person. You do not need incredible artistic skill in order to illustrate feelings. Often the act of creating something and explaining the context of what you have created can be enough.
In effect the idea is that anyone being treated has an equal chance of receiving a positive benefit from the treatment. It may be applied in different ways such as part of their rehabilitation or as a form of psychotherapy. However the act itself is often enough to get people thinking beyond what they would normally talk about with their friends, family and even sometimes illustrate more than they would be able to discuss verbally with a therapist.
With art therapy it is possible to get people to open up through creative work. Whether it is through painting, sculpture or some other form of art it is possible for a patient to focus on the creative work rather than having to verbalise it. Indeed in a lot of cases the very act of creativity itself can release stress and be therapeutic.
A therapist in this field will be trained in both art and in therapy. This will allow them to professionally supervise the creative process but also keep in mind the purpose of the exercise. Often someone working on a piece will not realise the subconscious symbols in their work.
The process can benefit a wide array of clients. It can often be useful to encourage children or adults with learning disabilities, both in terms of expressing themselves and as a means of improving their self confidence. It can also be an effective method for children or adults who have suffered a severe trauma and may otherwise find it hard to verbally discuss events that cause them a lot of stress.
There are a number of independent therapists and professionals who are part of treatment units. You can find out more about services in your local area by looking online as well as getting recommendations from patients or carers that have used their services in the past. If you are willing to look help is available and even patients who have had severe problems can learn to cope with the right treatment or combination of treatments.
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