The Benefits of Art Therapy

Art therapy has become more accessible in recent years due to being available both through online and in-person sessions (Moula, 2024). Moreover, I have always found art therapy to be an intriguing intervention due to its flexible nature in the way it can be delivered and the way it can be used to help individuals tell their stories or create new ones for themselves using a different method than they are used to (Moula, 2024). This is why I am so enthusiastic about the possibility of working with clients in through this method.

Creating art has always been something that has helped me through challenging times. Not only as a way of expressing emotion, but also to uncover hidden feelings. If we delve into the aspects of why art can have a positive effect on the mental health of individuals, it will become apparent why art as a therapeutic modality can benefit both children (Malboeuf-Hurtubise, et al., 2021) and adults (Moula, 2024; Sheridan & Van Lith, 2024). This is partially due to the creator being able to put feelings and thoughts that are muddled into a more tangible form so that the creator can gain knowledge about their meaning (Sheridan & Van Lith, 2024).

For example, in a recent study conducted by Robin Sheridan & Theresa Van Lith (2024), found that art therapy assisted individuals with rethinking the plans they had made for their lives. In addition, art therapy had allowed creators to let emotions come out that they did not know were inside of them (Sheridan & Van Lith, 2024). I feel that this is an especially significant benefit of art therapy as those who have experienced trauma may feel the weigh of those emotions a pressure or burden that one cannot get a reprieve from (Sheridan & Van Lith, 2024). Therefore, those who participate in art therapy may then begin to learn to cope with those emotions and learn to have more control over them (Sheridan & Van Lith, 2024).

Regarding children, art therapy interventions have been shown as providing relief in stressful situations (Malboeuf-Hurtubise, et al., 2021). For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, a study demonstrated that art therapy interventions could be helpful in reducing anxiety and giving a child a sense of power while they are in the process of creating a work of art (Malboeuf-Hurtubise, et al., 2021). In addition to relieving emotional symptoms, art therapy may also assist with improving focus for children who have had trouble with maintaining attention in certain situations (Malboeuf-Hurtubise, et al., 2021).

In addition to the benefits previously mentioned, the minimally restrictive format that art therapy can provide during a session can allow for a more positive therapeutic environment (Abraham et al., 2024). According to one study, this may be the reason that some clients may be able to build a stronger rapport with their therapist than they otherwise would have (Abraham et al., 2024). In addition, clients were able to identify the main problem that they would like to address in therapy quicker through the creation of art as opposed to trying to verbalize their feelings (Abraham et al., 2024). Moreover, the art therapy can also bring a sense of enjoyment during the sessions that can be unexpected as the client is encouraged to express themselves using a variety of art styles and instructions (Abraham, Snir et al. 2024).

It is for all of these reasons that I fully support art therapy as a therapeutic method as I believe it can empower the client to express themselves in multiple ways and to feel more at ease during a therapy session.

References

Abraham, R., Snir, S., & Regev, D. (2024, July 29). Perceptions of young adult clients treated with time-limited art therapy. International Journal of Art Therapy: Inscape, 1-12. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/17454832.2024.2375206

Malboeuf-Hurtubise, C., Léger-Goodes, T., Mageau, G. A., Taylor, G., Herba, C. M., Chadi, N., & Lefrançois, D. (2021). Online art therapy in elementary schools during COVID-19: results from a randomized cluster pilot and feasibility study and impact on mental health. hild Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health, 15(15), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-021-00367-5

Moula, Z. (2024). Art therapy delivered face-to-face, online, and in comparison to arts-based interventions. International Journal of Art Therapy, 68–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/17454832.2024.2340861

Sheridan, R., & Van Lith, T. (2024, August 21). Exploring the Impact of Metaphors on Resiliance in Art Therapy Using Mixed Methods. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2024.2388198