Art Therapy: Painting, Sculpting and Paving Your Way Into Healing
People have used art for centuries to express themselves – and with a skilled therapist, art therapy can be incredibly healing for those in addiction recovery who’ve gone through pain. Trauma, accidents, the loss of a loved one, mental illness and more can make it that much harder to find peace in daily life – and art therapy opens up the platform for a person to express themselves, even if they can’t find the words to describe what they’re going through. Last year, writer Art Acacia told Medium, a magazine that publishes relatable information on mental health and more, that art therapy, “…provides a safe place where patients can explore unpleasant feelings such as anger, sadness, or fear. Feelings that they are otherwise reluctant to talk about.”
Art therapy is used in a number of ways, such as to help:
- Improve self-esteem
- Reduce stress
- Resolve conflicts
- Manage behavior
- Increase self-awareness
- Achieve insight
- And more
Through a series of artistic projects, a therapist can help a person explore a new side of themselves they haven’t had the chance to experience yet. Artistic skill isn’t judged upon, and in many cases, it’s completely open to interpretation. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a person in recovery to discover new ways of relating to certain people, places or events through art therapy, because it gives them a new perception on an experience they’ve had. A psychologist who created Hey Sigmund, a website that talks about various aspects of being human (such as addiction), provided several examples of art therapy that can pave the way to healing and restoration, such as:
- Designing a postcard that you’ll never send – which can help release anger and other painful emotions
- Drawing the idea of a perfect home – which can help a person identify what they want in the future
- Creating a collage of your worries – so that a person can get it out of their heart and onto paper
Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed mental health and substance abuse recovery center. If you are ready to seek treatment to develop the tools you need to overcome life’s obstacles and be on the road towards happiness, health, and well-being, call us today at 888-958-7511 for a consultation. It’s never too late, and there are people here ready to help you.
