Art and Mental Health

A good sketch is better than a long speech or A  picture is  worth a thousand words. - Napoleon Bonaparte

 

 

Art can be a hobby, a career, or a source of expression. However, some believe it can remedy some of the symptoms of mental health condition(s). 

 

What is Art Therapy

 

Last week's blog post Music and Mental Health explored Music Therapy , which is a type of Arts Therapy. While today I would like to discuss Art Therapy. So what is Art Therapy? Well, Art Therapy is a therapeutic practice made up of three healing methods that are analytic art, art psychotherapy, and the lens of art therapy. The first method, Analytic art therapy focuses on the client, the therapist, and the ideas that are transferred between the both of them through art  (Wiki 2022). Contrarily, art psychotherapy is a combination of art and verbal analysis as well as communication. Lastly, the lens of art therapy is ...the creation process of the art... (Wiki 2022). Art Therapy consists of treating mental health conditions such as ED, autism, anxiety, etc, by drawing thoughts or feelings, discussing drawings created during therapy sessions, and so forth.

 

The History of Art and Mental Health

Art was used as a pain or stress reliever long before it became a part of the 18th century's Moral Treatment. Nevertheless, by the 1900s Art Therapy was furthered by Adrian Hill, E. M. Lyddiatt, Michael Edwards, Diana Raphael-Halliday, Rita Simons, and so on. Furthermore, Art Therapy became a career and degree option in the 20th century. Today, Art Therapy is a commonly used method within psychotherapy and is offered in many hospitals, facilities, as well as medical organizations.

 

Georgia, Art Therapy, and Mental Health 

 

As mentioned before in last week's blog post Music and Mental Health, there are a lot of people throughout the world, including individuals in Georgia, suffering from certain mental health conditions. Around 18 % of Georgia's population deals with medical issues that are mental health related. Psychology Today is a frequently used website for individuals to be able to find medical help, such as Art Therapy from any part of the world including Georgia. Recovery in Georgia states how medical care is a luxury that not every individual who is dealing with mental health conditions can afford. Thus, I want to state that there is the option of taking free in-person art classes as well as free art online courses for all age groups. In addition to finding free in-person and online art workshop classes, you can try a version of Art Therapy in your home. Moreover, you can simply search for Art Therapy on YouTube. Of course, this would be loosely based on the practice done in Art Therapy since it will be done without a medical professional. Even so, I found that drawing, painting, and sketching have remedied some of my anxiety symptoms. Thirsty For Art is a YouTube channel that illustrates how something similar to Art Therapy can be done at home. In particular, I enjoyed the video below when I began using drawing to help cope with my anxiety:

 

Do you think that pictures can sometimes express emotions better than words? Have you found drawing or painting to be helpful for your mental and emotional state? What do you like to do to help relieve stress or pain?

- X

 

 

CC Attribution: 

"Brain nebula" by ezhikoff is licensed under CC BY 2.0. 

"Fluid Painting detail" by markchadwickart is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. 

"Goldener Bilderrahmen - gold picture frame" by eriwst is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. 

"gaudy picture frame" by Mr Thinktank is licensed under CC BY 2.0. 

"NYC - Metropolitan Museum of Art: Matthew Pratt's The American School" by wallyg is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. 

"Paint Brushes" by 3rd foundation is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. 

"Painting With Light" by cypheroz is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.