When we hear the word ‘therapy’, we tend to think about physiotherapy or cognitive therapy (counselling), but there are other forms of therapy that can be used to heal both physical and emotional pain. One of these is Art Therapy. Art Therapy is an incredibly powerful form of therapy, with the power to unlock emotions within someone, that they may not be able to access themselves. Here are just some of the benefits of Art Therapy.
Perception and self-perception
Those who undergo Art Therapy report that the process helps them focus on the present, recognise their emotions and identify connections between their emotions and physical responses. While this can be challenging at first, this serves as a starting point for the healing process.
Personal integration
Art Therapy is very effective for expressing conflicting emotions or thoughts together in one coherent and cohesive space. As you create art (using colour, lines, shapes or symbols) you make your emotions visible, which helps you recognise thought processes and strengthen your self-image.
Emotion and impulse regulation
Art Therapy offers an experiential space in which people can experiment with new responses to often difficult feelings. This empowering process can help regulate turbulent emotions and help people gain a great sense of self-confidence and control in life.
Insight and reflection
By creating visual representations of your feelings, you are often able to translate these emotions and non-verbal experiences into words. Many people experience an inner dialogue while undertaking Art Therapy and with the facilitation of the art therapist they gain a greater insight and comprehension of emotions.
Keep in mind, Art Therapy is not about creating great art, it’s about the process of making emotions visible. Every person is unique, and their individuality can be expressed through Art Therapy. There are thousands of colours and numerous media such as canvas, paint, crayon, water colour, sketch, charcoal, pencil, that can be used to express yourself. Your art therapist will facilitate which mediums will enable the best results from the session. Different mediums can support a client in different ways. If you’re looking for quality Art Therapy on the Gold Coast, contact Vlinder Expressive Arts Therapy today.
