Art and its Healing Power

We are all creative beings. Men's creative minds madeexpressions, and intellectual insights or reflections. Art
them reach the peak of the highest mountain in thetherapy clients are able to deal with the same kinds of
world, plant a flag on the moon, fly into outer space.issues they would deal with in conventional talk
Our creativity brought about inventions that havetherapies. They are not required to have any special
changed human history and culture such as theartistic skills or abilities in order to benefit from art
computer, the Internet, cell phone, TV, x-ray machines,therapy. However, the clients engage in the therapy by
and a long list of other innovations. These are all thecreating with art materials in collaboration with the art
end result of man's creativity.  therapist. The art therapist serves as a witness, guide,
Suffice it to say, creativity produces works of art,and facilitator --- helping the artist-client to express their
which in turn, plays a large role in our everyday lives.unique creativity and then "translate" their creative
We can see them in almost every corner, everylanguage into meaningful avenues of exploration and
space or walls around us.  Art has been used as apersonal insights.
visual means of communication and expression datingDrawing, painting, and sculpting help many people
back to prehistoric times. Art speaks of originality,reconcile their inner conflicts, release deeply repressed
individuality, a creative process, graphic materials,emotions, and foster self-awareness, as well as
colors, textures, spontaneity, risk, alternatives, andpersonal growth. Some mental health providers use art
imagination. But art is not only for the creative minds ortherapy as a diagnostic tool and as a way to help
the famous painters. It is also a healthy way totreat disorders such as anxiety, abuse-related trauma,
express the way we feel and deal with our emotions.and schizophrenia. Art therapy sessions are also given
Art has been of central importance to the healingto prison inmates and HIV patients.
practices of many cultures over much of humanAlthough there is relatively little scientific evidence to
history. As time went on, art has been developed as aprove that that it helps people with cancer, many
tool for psychological diagnosis and treatment calledhealth professionals think it may encourage the cancer
Art Therapy.   patients to express their emotions, which could help
According to the American Art Therapy Association,them improve their relationship with others. It can also
art therapy is a method that utilizes art media, images,take their minds and feelings away from pain and
and the creative art process to help a patient todiscomfort.
address concerns and conflicts. Art Therapy is basedArt is found to be of great help most especially to a
on the knowledge of human development anddepressed individual. Through art, they can discover
psychological theories which are implemented in the fulltheir anger and express it in a healthy way. In one
spectrum of models of assessment and treatmentstudy, art therapy was used with suicidal teenagers,
including educational, psycho-dynamic, cognitive,and results showed that it had positive effects as part
trans-personal, and other therapeutic means ofof an overall treatment plan.  Teenagers with
reconciling emotional conflicts. It is also used as a tooldepression are often slowed down in their journey
for  fostering self-awareness, developing social skills,towards independence and to having a secure
managing behavior, solving problems, reducing anxiety,self-identity. Therefore, it is very helpful to provide a
aiding in reality orientation, and  in increasingsafe outlet for the distress that has triggered the
self-esteem.depression. With the creative process of art therapy,
The beginnings of modern art therapy can be tracednegative factors that cause depression such as guilt,
to the early 1900s when psychiatrists first wondered ifworthlessness, and hopelessness are gradually
there was a relationship between artworks and theaddressed.
illnesses of patients. At the same time, art educatorsWhen used along with other interventions for the
began to observe how the free and spontaneoustreatment of depression, art therapy can be an
artworks of children were a form of personaleffective and creative way to aid an individual's
storytelling which conveyed emotionally andjourney toward self-knowledge and emotional health.
symbolically meaningful messages. These two areasThe idea is not to focus on producing a masterpiece.
of interest that eventually resulted in the emergence ofThe important thing to remember is to concentrate on
the distinct discipline of art therapy in the 1930s. Duringthe act of creation itself. The images that are
the second half of the twentieth century, art therapistsproduced can help lead the individual to a new and
became increasingly organized, setting up graduatedifferent understanding of how they think and feel, and
programs, professional associations, and journals.this knowledge may be the tool that helps them unlock
A variety of artistic methods are used in Arttheir inner happiness.
Therapy.  These methods or professional areasEmotional disturbances such as depression, anxiety,
include:  music therapy, dance therapy, psychodrama,and stress overload are the result of losing touch with
and movie therapy. Other methods include speechone's own thoughts and feelings. One way to get back
therapy, recreational therapy, photo-therapy, andin touch with these thoughts and feelings is through the
poetry therapy.use of art. Art therapy provides a sense of
Art therapy has actually developed into a human careaccomplishment, enjoyment, and personal expression
service which expands the psychotherapeutic processfor those interested in simple relaxation and
to encompass the client's visual and verbalself-discovery.