vineri, 13 iunie 2014

The Benefits Of Using An Art Therapist

By Ina Hunt


There are numerous types of therapy. Some may be more effective than others. What one person may respond to another may not appreciate. Therefore it helps to consider another approach. One type of therapy you may not have considered is using the services of an art therapist.

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 order to be qualified to do this kind of therapy the therapist needs to have the same level of qualification in art as well as being qualified to treat a patient. This will mean they are sufficiently qualified to supervise the art as well as provide the therapeutic interpretation of that art.

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.

It should also be said that this may also be combined with other treatments. Often this is an effective way of getting previously reticent people to be more in touch with their emotions and better able to express them. This is often due to the fact that the creative project allows more objective perspective from their emotional issues. Over time this can mean a change in both perception and behaviour.

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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