A Look on Art Therapy

Aside from its aesthetic functions, art is not without other excellent attributes. As a matter of fact, it has also been widely used for medical purposes, particularly in the treatment called Art Therapy.

Now, Art Therapy is essentially the therapeutic use of art making in order to enhance a person's physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Through this unique procedure, individuals can express themselves by creating visual arts, poetry, music, drama, or any other art form. Experts believe that by creating art and reflecting on the art products such as paintings, sculptures and the like, people will be able to increase their self-awareness, cope with symptoms, traumatic experiences, and stress. Aside from these, it can also develop people's cognitive abilities and get to enjoy the one-of-a-kind satisfaction of having produced specific art pieces.

When an artwork is made and completed, this image along with the process of its creation will be analysed in order to reveal repressed feelings and conflicts that a client may be keeping. This can then become the talking point between the client and his therapist. Being able to discuss both the process and output can help a person to identify and understand the root of a problem and make the necessary changes to his behaviour or way of thinking when necessary.

Art Therapy believes in the underlying theory that a person's ability to be creative and to heal originate from the same source. Thus, during the treatment, these two natural processes are triggered in order to provide a communication medium to access one's emotional conflict.

With this, one can say that art truly heals.