Art Therapy with Harmony Arts
Purposeful Counseling for Clients With Medical Conditions
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy involves an art therapist assisting a client while they use art materials to express their emotions, bringing out their inner experience with as much or as little talking as the client wishes. This can be incredibly helpful because sometimes we don’t know exactly what we are feeling, or perhaps we don’t have the words to describe it. Art Therapy allows expression of emotion without necessarily needing to use words. However, art also has a way of clarifying our emotions to us as well as bringing about a meaningful and healing dialogue.
How Can Art Therapy Help With Medical Conditions?
Art therapy does not only help us to recognize our mental and emotional struggles. It addresses our physical challenges as well because clients are physically engaged with the art materials during therapy. Movement, strength, and manipulation of the materials act as a tangible and visible way for clients to see the progress of their healing bodies in addition to the development of an internal sense of wellbeing. What is also notable is how art therapy can provide a sense of independence that is often lost after a medical incident or becoming dependent on a caregiver. Although a person may not be able to do everything on their own, with art therapy a person can feel empowered by what they are able to choose and accomplish.
Examples of How Art Therapy May Help
Art therapy provides an outlet and guidance for how to navigate overwhelming emotions as well as provide some sense of control in situations that feel out of our control. These principles can be applied to any disease process or symptom you may be experiencing. See below for just a few specific examples.
Stress and Pain
Stress increases our pain due to the release of a hormone called cortisol. Art therapy has been shown to decrease stress, resulting in more manageable pain levels.
Alzheimer's
Art provides healthy stimulation to our brains. For people with Alzheimer's this means that art therapy can trigger memories as well as verbal communication. This can assist with slowing the progression of the disease as well as make coping with the effects of the disease feel more manageable.
Caregivers
Need Support Too
We are more able to continue caring for others when we have also cared for ourselves. Art therapy increases our sense of control, emotional well-being, and resiliency.
Hospice
Art therapy gives us the opportunity to reminisce about important memories, realize the meaning in our lives, and promote bonding between loved ones including when we are saying goodbye.
Stroke
Art therapy can help a person
practice regaining function that has been lost after a stroke. Some examples include large movements, fine motor control, balance, hand strength, and more.
Questions?
If you have any questions about how art therapy can help you
specifically, please feel free to contact me at:
(720) 600-4941
or