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Thứ Bảy, 21 tháng 6, 2014

The Benefits Of Using An Art Therapist

By Ina Hunt


For centuries people have known about the benefits of art. The best pieces can allow people to calm themselves or alternatively express inner anguish. In recent times people have learned to specifically train in order to use art for therapeutic purposes and an art therapist is someone who is qualified to do this.

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.

It was only in the middle of the twentieth century that art therapy began to be more formalised. Nowadays it is recognised as a valid treatment both in terms of being a complement to other forms of treatment and as a method of treating patients in and of itself. It can be used in a variety of different ways and help a variety of different people.

One of the biggest benefits is the fact that some people may not be comfortable with verbal communication. This can often be the case with people who have physical, mental or learning disabilities. Creative work can often allow them to express themselves more naturally, allowing them to reveal themselves in a way that may have been awkward in a one to one discussion.

In other cases a patient may be capable of verbal communication but may be too traumatised to discuss this. For example if a child has been abused or an adult has gone through a similar traumatic event then they are less likely to talk about it, even if the therapist does their best to create a comfortable, non threatening environment. They may become quiet or in the more severe cases lash out in an aggressive way.

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 numerous organisations you can find online to help you find therapists who specialise in this field. They may not necessarily just use painting, sculpture and so forth with many also using drama, role play and other forms of expressive exercises to help people. Look online for more information as well as feedback from people who have used this kind of therapy in the past.




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