Creativity, Self-Discovery, and Connection

By Christopher Brazelton

Art – whether you choose to create it yourself or simply observe and enjoy it – is a relaxing and inspiring activity for many people. However, the benefits of artistic expression go much further than relaxation and enjoyment. Studies suggest that art can be very therapeutic and valuable in treating issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even some phobias. It is a great way to express your emotions without words, process complex feelings, and find relief.

Art therapy has been regularly practiced since the 1940s. Two pioneers in the field, Margaret Naumburg and Edith Kramer, began using the concept of “art as therapy” as a means to help clients tap into their inner thoughts, deep feelings, and past experiences, leveraging creative expression. Therapists use patients’ free form art creations and encourage them to talk about the images and to begin to look within themselves for meaning and insight.

Certainly, art can help people deal with strong emotions, increase self-awareness and self-worth, and decrease stress and anxiety through a variety of mediums for creative expression including drawing, painting, coloring, or sculpting.

None of this is new. Art has always been instrumental in helping us learn more about ourselves while increasing connectivity to others. Even the most dated drawings and carvings in caves were created to communicate and develop a deeper sense of community. For something so temporary as making or appreciating art, the impact of the finished product has often proved to stand the test of time, reinforcing how necessary art can be to our lives and how we can use it to affect others.

Since the phrase “art therapy” was coined in 1942, art has been leveraged for therapeutic exercises and used by mental health practitioners for patients ranging from the very young to the elderly, especially for war veterans, prisoners, and individuals who’ve been diagnosed with mental disorders. By the 20th century, art therapy was a recognized field requiring certification and training in both art and therapy. Art therapy has also commonly moved outside of mental health facilities and into other community settings such as schools, shelters, nursing homes, residential treatment facilities, and halfway houses.

In more recent years, researchers have explored the benefits of art for treating a variety of physical health difficulties.

 

Some Benefits of Art Therapy

• Helps reduce pain, decrease symptoms of stress, and improve quality of life in adult cancer patients
• Improves ability to deal with pain and other frightening symptoms in children with cancer
• Reduces stress and anxiety in children with asthma
• Stimulates mental function in older adults with dementia
• Indicates a reduction in depression in Parkinson’s patients

 

In her book, The Art Therapy Sourcebook, Cathy Malchiodi, a leading expert in the field, states that, through art therapy, “People may find relief from overwhelming emotions, crises, or trauma. They may discover insights about themselves, increase their sense of well-being, enrich their daily lives through creative expression, or experience personal transformation.”

If thinking of it as “therapy” seems intimidating, just try art — the benefits are certainly still there. Producing art can benefit anyone who feels overwhelmed or pressured by the hectic world we live in, providing a moment of serenity to use your mind and your hands to create, which will give you a chance to slow down and explore, causing those hectic moments to have less control.

Since the focus of art therapy is on the process and not the final product, the goal is not about trying to become a great artist. It’s about finding meaning and connection in your life. All you need to get started is a willingness
to experiment.

While we have only scratched the surface of art therapy at Woodstock Arts, there are plenty of opportunities to create and experience art in its various mediums to enjoy some of its benefits for yourself. Perhaps you know of someone, young or aging, who needs to experience some clarity and serenity. Though we hope to have formal art therapy programs in the future, you may be able to experience some therapeutic moments in some of our current classes.

Woodstock Arts is constantly rotating classes and looking for new ways to engage the community, with 5-6 sessions a year (plus summer camps) including ceramics, oil painting, watercolor, and acrylic. To view current offerings, visit WoodstockArts.org/classes. Hopefully, your class experience will allow you to connect with others and yourself on a deep, meaningful level.