In addiction treatment, different types of therapy can be used in your individualized treatment plan. Art therapy is one example of how our clients at Avalon Malibu heal in recovery. Addiction can be a complex diagnosis, so it is important that we treat each individual according to their specific needs. Art therapy, in combination with other therapy methods, could be right for you. Art therapy can be beneficial to your recovery, even if you have no previous experience creating art. This therapy can be implemented by anyone regardless of your art abilities or skills. At Avalon Malibu, we believe art can be healing for our clients in recovery.
Ways Art Therapy Can Be Healing
Art therapy can be beneficial to your recovery because it can allow you to express yourself in new ways. There may be an expectation or belief surrounding creating art. This could lead you to think that your art has to look a certain way, and that is certainly not the case. Not only is art a skill that takes practice, but when participating in art therapy, there is no wrong way to create. Creative expression can be important to your recovery, which can be healing as you explore different mediums.
Exploring different mediums in art therapy can give you the opportunity to go outside of your comfort zone. This can be a healthy way to unveil thoughts and emotions in a new way. You can then explore them with your therapist, which can be healing and beneficial to your recovery. At Avalon Malibu, we integrate psychotherapeutic techniques in art therapy, which has proven benefits to your mental health.
An important piece of benefiting from art therapy is that a professional therapist facilitates. At Avalon Malibu, we are able to provide this to you. According to Frontiers in Psychology, “Art therapy, facilitated by a professional art therapist, effectively supports personal and relational treatment goals, as well as community concerns. Art therapy is used to improve cognitive and sensorimotor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and advance societal and ecological change.”
Why We Have Art Therapy in Addiction Treatment
Art therapy can help you to express things that may be difficult to do in words. We believe it is vital to your recovery that we understand the root causes of your struggles with addiction. This is important because we are all complex human beings. With that in mind, we want to help you express your thoughts, ideas, and emotions as best as possible to aid in your recovery. Art therapy can be one way we help you achieve these goals.
We understand that addiction can be a very complex issue to struggle with. At Avalon Malibu, we want to provide different therapy techniques so you have the best chance of long-term recovery. Art therapy, in combination with our other treatment methods, can be healing. In art therapy, you could come to enjoy the process and continue creating art after treatment.
The Journal of Addictions Nursing states, “These findings suggest several benefits for [substance use disorder] SUD patients, such as decreasing denial, reducing opposition to alcoholism treatment, providing an outlet for communication, and lessening shame.” This validates that art therapy can be used in addiction treatment, which can produce positive outcomes. We use art therapy to help you heal because we believe you deserve to recover.
Examples of How Art Therapy Can Be Utilized in Recovery
As previously mentioned, there is no wrong way to create art. It is important that in art therapy, you do what feels right for you as you explore the creation process. Some examples of art therapy activities could include drawing or painting. There are also other creative therapies, such as writing, yoga, and music therapy, all of which can be healing in your recovery journey.
Some examples of art projects could include expressing what your emotions look like to you. You could designate a specific color, shape, or brush stroke to the emotion you are expressing. You could then discuss with your therapist what you created. You could even create a piece of art that represents what emotions you would like to feel in recovery. Another example could be that you express what recovery looks like to you. This could be a self-portrait or things you aspire to do after treatment.
The above examples could be healing as they could lead you to look at your potential for growth in your recovery. We believe art does not have to be perfect for it to be a beneficial tool in your healing journey. Utilizing art therapy has the potential to help you work towards healing in your recovery.
At Avalon Malibu, we know addiction can be a complex issue to struggle with. We believe art therapy, in combination with other therapies, can help you heal from addiction. Art therapy can be done by anyone with the assistance of a professional art therapist. Art can be healing as it can allow you to express thoughts, ideas, and emotions in new, healthy ways. You may come to enjoy art therapy and can go on to utilize it as a healthy coping mechanism or as a hobby. Healing in addiction recovery is possible. We believe everyone deserves recovery, and our methods, including art therapy, may be right for you. Call (844) 857-5992 for additional information regarding art therapy and addiction treatment.
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