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Art therapy is becoming an increasingly common way for clients at rehabilitation centers to express feelings and communicate personal experiences.

As the concept of art therapy develops, its proven effectiveness is demonstrated time and time again in treatment facilities around the country.

As therapeutic approaches change and evolve, doctors and scientists learn more about human psychology and new methods to treat addiction. These advances are brought into addiction treatment programs to provide clients a variety of opportunities to heal.

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Why Do Programs use Art Therapy?

There are many therapy techniques, strategies and rehabilitation treatments utilized in the process of helping those who have experienced struggles with addiction.

However, different approaches work for different individuals and a therapeutic technique that works well for one person doesnt necessarily work for another.

Common treatment approaches include individual counseling sessions, process groups, and educational workshops. In individual counceling sessions, a client works with a therapist to confront feelings and behaviors detrimental to long-term recovery. In a process group setting, individuals are part of a group of peers. Being part of a group of people with similar experiences helps clients feel supported

Art therapy programs help clients tap into their inner emotions and challenges.

During treatment, clients are encouraged to communicate their feelings, whether its through talking or writing. Art therapy provides an outlet for suppressed emotions and feelings. Clients utilize this therapy to share their feelings in a safe and creative way.

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The History of Art Therapy

Art therapy is a melding of traditional art practices and theo-ries of psychotherapy.

Despite its current use as a therapeutic technique, art therapy originated in the mid-1900s as a part of art education in uni-versities and colleges in Europe and other English speaking countries. A British artist named Adrian Hill is known for having a large influence in the practice of modern art therapy.

Hill is cited with the first known use of the term, asso-ciating it with the idea of alleviating stress and sharing feelings through the creation of images. Hill published a book in 1945 called Art Versus Illness, the first ever tome advocating for art as a therapeutic technique as a treatment for mental illness and addiction.

Art therapy was first used formally at Netherne Hospital in Surrey by therapy proponent Edward Adamson in 1946.

His practices included an open art studio that hospital residents were permitted to visit freely in order to create works of art to express their feelings.

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The History of Art Therapy cont.

Adamson believed that individuals were more effectively treated by using their own discretion to create works of art, especially since mid-twentieth century treatment facilities tended to be bleak, depressing and often harmful to an individuals state of mind.

With the ability to create paintings, sculptures, functional pieces and drawings, the people Adamson worked with showed amazing progress at a pace few other therapeutic techniques could match.

Although art therapy first started as an approach to treating mental illness, other uses for the treatment practice have become available over the last several decades.

Today, art therapy is used in schools, universities, addiction recovery centers and hospitals to ease pain of the terminally ill.

Art therapy has been found to be effective in promoting happiness and well-being, whether an idividual is just beginning the recovery process, or years after complet-ing addiction treatment.

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Art Therapy Application

Treatment centers around the world use art therapy to treat a variety of addiction disorders..

While different facilities use art therapy in different ways, its presence is very common.

In general, most addiction recovery centers offer art therapy classes or have assigned time slots scheduled in a clients day. Often, facilities have an open studio for clients to use at their leasure, as descripbed in the original use of art therapy.

Many different mediums are used in the process of art therapy. Many facilities stock a wide variety of art supplies in order promote a certain freedom to the creation process.

No matter how an individual wants to express him or herself, most rehabilitation cen-ters are willing to accommodate artistic inspiration.

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Painting Therapy

Possibly the most common form of creation in art therapy is painting, a universal art form practiced all over the world. Paint-ing is often favored in art therapy for its use of broad, bold colors.

Accordingly, there are many different paints that can be adapted to show a wide range of emotion.

Oil paints, for example, can be used to show bright colors and express many different feelings and thoughts, allowing for a spec-trum of images and messages.

Watercolor paints are also commonly used for the soft, serene feelings such muted hues can convey.

Whether the rehabilitation process triggers feelings of sadness, anxiety or anger, painting can be a cathartic way to reveal these sentiments.

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Sculpting Therapy

Clay and the process of sculpting is also a very common technique.

While the final product of painting can often be considered sug-gestive and evocative, the entire process of sculpting can be very satisfying.

Feeling how clay, plaster or other substances can be molded, melded and rearranged can function akin to a stress ball: individuals can take their feelings out on a medium like clay during the process of creating a work of art.

A physical product that individuals can touch, hold and walk around can be a moving experience, mak-ing sculpting a very effective form of art therapy.

While sculpting has a pronounced place in art thera-py, clay and ceramics can stand alone as a medium. The skill and patience it takes to throw on a wheel or master the art of hand building can be a welcomed distraction on the road to recovery, making clay a popular choice among clients.

Learning to focus on a new skill can be helpful in tak-ing ones mind away from the struggle to overcome an addiction.

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Other Therapies

Origami paper folding can help individuals focus on details and creating something beautiful and delicate.

Oil pastels, charcoal and colored pencils are also favored by many on the road to addiction recovery. In most art therapy studios or classes, rehabilitation facilities allow individuals to use whatever mediums they desire in order to promote the highest level of recovery possible.

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The Benefits of Art Therapy

Regardless of personal feelings about artwork, artists or what makes a piece of art effective, art therapy is an incredibly popular and effective technique that promotes success in addiction recovery.

No matter what stage an individual is in in the recovery process, art therapy can be incredibly useful.

Using mediums such as paint and clay or process-es like drawing or sculpting can help individuals communicate feelings, express emotions and promote quiet, careful introspection.

The process of recovering from addiction is a challenge.

Using art therapy to become in touch with ones feelings can work wonders in uncovering emotions. Expressing suppressed feelings in a necessary step on the road to recovery.

No matter your addiction, art therapy can help pave the way to a happy, healthy life long after treatment is over.

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