Various forms of Art
There are many forms of art, all of which can be utilized for healing. Every type of art can have therapeutic aspects and qualities. Everyone is different and is their own individual, so art that works for some, may not work for others, but there is always some form of art that unleashes the freedoms and benefits of creativity and expression for each and every person. A great way to find what art works best for you, explore the various art forms! One is not required to be good at any form of art. It is about what one receives and draws from the art that is of most importance.
PaintingSculptureCulinary artMetals/Jewelry DesignCeramicsFashion & Product DesignTypography & CalligraphyPrint MakingGraphic Design/Digital Imaging |
DrawingMusicFilm & VideoFibers/Weaving/Tapestryillustrationinterior DesignCollage & AssemblageCraftsTheater/Drama |
DancePhotographyPerformance ArtEnvironmental artKnitting/CrotcheyingArchitectureInstillation/ Window Display artWriting |
Artistic Therapies
Along with the many forms of art, there are various forms of art therapies one could utilize. Here are just a few of the many therapeutic resources we could use in aiding us in using art to heal.
Music TherapyMusic Therapy is the evidence-based and clinical use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional. It is an established health profession where music is used to address emotional, physical, social, and cognitive needs of individuals. After assessing needs and strengths of clients, a music therapist provides the indicated and most effective treatment which can include singing, playing, creating, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in a therapeutic context, individuals’ abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy provides avenues for communication for those who find it difficult to express with words or cannot find the words to express. Research supports music therapy’s effectiveness in areas such as facilitating movement and overall physical rehabilitation, increasing people’s motivation to be engaged in their treatment, providing an outlet for expression of feelings, and providing emotional support for individuals and their families.
Drama TherapyDrama Therapy is the intentional use of drama/theater processes to achieve therapeutic goals. It is experimental and active, and this approach provides the context for clients/participants to express feelings, tell stories, solve problems, set goals, and/or achieve catharsis. The breadth and depth of inner experience can actively be explored and interpersonal relationship skills enhanced through drama therapy and/or drama in itself. Individuals may expand their repertoire of dramatic roles and find that their personal roles have been strengthened. Drama therapy provides stability and direction to help deal with person issues, allows for social interaction and self-expression, and has been shown to provide excitement for life.
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Dance/Movement TherapyDance/Movement Therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to further the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social integration of an individual. It is a form of expressive therapy that looks at the correlation between movement and emotion. Dance/Movement therapy supports emotional, intellectual, and motor functions of the human body. This type of therapy focuses on movement behavior as it emerges in the therapeutic relationship. Communicative, expressive, and adaptive behaviors are all considered for treatments, while body movement, as the core component of dance, simultaneously provides means of assessment and the mode of intervention for dance/movement therapy.
Art TherapyArt therapy is more of a mental health profession in which clients use the creative process, art media, and the resulting artwork to: reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage addictions and behavior, explore their feelings, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, improve reality orientation, and increase self-esteem. A goal in art therapy is to improve or restore a client’s functioning and sense of personal well-being. During either an individual or group session, an art therapist elicits their client(s)’ inherent capacity for art making to enhance their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Art therapy helps one improve interpersonal skills, resolve conflicts, reduce stress, achieve personal insight. It provides an opportunity to enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art and using creativity.
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Expressive Arts Therapy
Expressive Arts Therapy uses the artistic process as a means of release and expression. In expressive art, a client’s work is not used as a diagnostic tool because it is believed that only the person who created the work knows the meaning of it. It is a method using visual arts, storytelling, dance, music, poetry, movement and many other beneficial techniques for human growth, development and healing. Expressive Arts is a way of experiencing a creative expressive and creative community of healing. It offers an approach that combines visual arts, music, movement, writing, drama, and many other creative modalities to facilitate growth. During the multimodal process, one art modality flows into another, activating the natural tendencies of expression, and results in a sense of great well-being. The natural tendencies to heal also show that individuals gravitate towards an arts modality best suited for their own optimum learning and growth. Expressive arts provide hands-on “experimental vehicles” for expression that can involve: auditory (music/sound), visual (images), tactile (sand, clay, play), kinesthetic (dance/movement), and many other modalities that thus offer a plethora of possibilities.