This subsection is designed to help comprehend the art – therapeutic experience from the point of view of contemporary art practice.
Art therapy is a part of culture, it develops in close interaction with modern art, social relations. All this influences the creative self – expression of participants in art therapy sessions.
Sometimes a person experiences difficulties in expressing feelings. The right words do not come to mind or in my head a constant “running line”. A person is not able to formulate his experiences, he can not find a positive outlet for his emotions, he worries about something.
And then art therapy comes to the rescue. A person may even not know what is called the action in which he does an unconscious step, he takes a brush, oil, canvas …… and after a few hours in his head comes order, restless thoughts recede into the background and amazing harmony spreads throughout the body. What is it? This can be called a therapy of creativity or art therapy.
Metaphorical associative cards (MAC), as one of the methods of Art therapy.
MAC cards as a tool in solving life problems and getting answers to questions. Interaction with the MAC allows you to look at the situation deeper and wider than it is seen and felt.
Usually every person tries to solve all his problems by the usual way with the help of his mind. But it is logical thinking that often drives a person into a corner. Logic blocks the emotional background, and while working with this tool, the output of emotions releases additional energy, and the solution to the problem suddenly arises by itself.
There is a new level of information and new opportunities.
Objectives
While undergoing art treatment, the client realizes self-knowledge, self-expression and introspection, which allows him to harmonize his mental state. Creativity therapy aims to improve the psychological and emotional background, relieve stress, get rid of fears and phobias, aggression, anxiety, apathy, depression, increase vitality and mood.
In addition to harmonizing the mental state, the psychologist’s classes with elements of art therapy pursue the following tasks:
- To reveal the creative potential of a person, his talents and abilities.
- Accelerate recovery from many diseases.
- To establish contact between the therapist and the client, to establish a trusting relationship between them.
- Help the patient concentrate on inner experiences and learn to control their emotions.
- Help a person adapt socially.
- To give impetus to the expression of their feelings and thoughts that a person cannot or does not want to express in the usual way.
Tasks
Let’s consider the specific tasks that art therapy can handle. These include:
– Diagnostics. With the help of creativity, you can identify what are the main problems of the client, which area he should pay closer attention to, what is really happening to him.
– Correction. With the help of art therapy, you can help a person change their behavior in a more constructive way, heal from fears, anxieties, limiting beliefs, phobias, etc.
– Development. One of the main functions of art therapy is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a person and to develop them.
– Meeting aesthetic needs. In the course of the art therapy process, true creativity begins. Clients create paintings, music, poetry, even books. Interestingly, most often this happens precisely with those who considered themselves completely “earthly”, far from creativity and inspiration.
– Psychotherapy. And, of course, with the help of art therapy, you can work with deep layers of the subconscious, with trauma, heavy experiences.
Indication for art therapy
Any deviation of the psychoemotional or mental state of a person can become indications for therapeutic therapy. The most common are:
- Stress, depression, depressed mood.
- Impulsivity and emotional instability.
- Fears, phobias.
- Low self-esteem, negative self-concept.
- Increased anxiety.
- Psychological dissatisfaction with oneself or any relationship.
- Unreasonable irritability and conflict.
- Closure and mental stress.
- Psychological trauma.
- Violation of communication skills.
- Age crises.
- Delayed mental or speech development.
Types of art therapy
With the development of psychotherapy, art therapy has become the most successful and effective way to diagnose and treat people with psychosomatic illnesses. This is due to the main theory of occupation, the goals of which are closely intertwined with personality psychoanalysis. Practice as a way to implement creative ideas has no development boundaries. Therefore, more and more new types of art therapy appear.
The most popular are the following types of treatment:
- isotherapy;
- color therapy;
- sand therapy;
- fairy tale therapy;
- music therapy;
- game therapy.
Individual art therapy
This form of art psychotherapeutic work is characterized by the fact that the client turns to a specialist for advice, and then, in his presence, performs creative tasks. For example, the therapist can give the task to draw something on a specific topic and in a specific technique, consistently create a holistic artistic image, etc.
In most cases, the duration of one session is from 45 minutes to 2 hours. Considering that this is little more than the usual consultation of a psychotherapist lasts, a person has enough time to immerse himself in the creative flow, complete the task, then analyze it and formulate conclusions.
Art therapy in addiction treatment
Usually each person tries to solve all his problems in the usual way with the help of his mind. But it is logical thinking that often drives a person into a corner. Logic blocks the emotional background, and while working with this tool, the release of emotions releases additional energy, and the solution to the problem suddenly arises by itself.
A new level of information and new opportunities appear.
