Friday, June 20, 2014

The Benefits Of Using An Art Therapist

By Ina Hunt


There are numerous types of therapy. Some may be more effective than others. What one person may respond to another may not appreciate. Therefore it helps to consider another approach. One type of therapy you may not have considered is using the services of an art therapist.

For decades therapists have known there is often a connection between the creative work and the individual. Often this creativity works on a level that is deeper than the person may be able to verbally express. Over time therapists began to realise that the symbols used in creative work by patients were often symptomatic of their own subconscious concerns.

Over time therapists began to use this to their advantage, using the creativity of the patient to get a deeper understanding. However it was not until the middle of the twentieth century that art therapy began to be recognised as a treatment in and of itself. More recently people have begun to realise the benefits of getting patients to express themselves.

In effect the idea is that anyone being treated has an equal chance of receiving a positive benefit from the treatment. It may be applied in different ways such as part of their rehabilitation or as a form of psychotherapy. However the act itself is often enough to get people thinking beyond what they would normally talk about with their friends, family and even sometimes illustrate more than they would be able to discuss verbally with a therapist.

In order to be qualified to do this kind of therapy the therapist needs to have the same level of qualification in art as well as being qualified to treat a patient. This will mean they are sufficiently qualified to supervise the art as well as provide the therapeutic interpretation of that art.

In some cases their work may be used to aid diagnosis or it may be a part of the treatment. This is because the symbols people use in their artwork are often unconscious indicators of their current feelings. Often what may initially seem to be about one thing may be an indicator of a more hidden emotion within and a well qualified therapist will be able to recognise this.

It should also be said that this may also be combined with other treatments. Often this is an effective way of getting previously reticent people to be more in touch with their emotions and better able to express them. This is often due to the fact that the creative project allows more objective perspective from their emotional issues. Over time this can mean a change in both perception and behaviour.

You can find numerous therapists online. It is vital to check that they have the appropriate qualifications and experience. In some cases they may also be part of a wider medical or mental health team. Use your regular search engine to find out background information as well as getting feedback from people who have used these services in the past. With the right approach you or someone that you care for will be able to get the full benefit from this kind of treatment.




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