Consider these exercises if you’re looking to feel a little more laid back. Like Howes, I am not going to talk about evidence-based approaches or outcomes. I am also not going talk about the use of art to evaluate or assess emotional or other disorders; that is a topic both fascinating and controversial and a subject for another blog series. Every vignette, case study, or reference to a client has been adapted and adjusted for legal and ethical publication.

Gives You a New, Healthy Hobby

Remember, the goal of integrating art therapy into your life isn’t about creating perfect artwork, but rather using the creative process as a pathway to healing. Start small, stay consistent, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ and allow yourself to explore this transformative tool. Approaches vary, including traditional mediums like painting and drawing, to more modern forms like digital art therapy.

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Instead of directly targeting the trauma, it respects those built up protective devices and explores their purpose. At Sabino Recovery, we understand that healing from addiction requires a unique approach tailored to each individual. Our expressive arts program provides an innovative way for you to explore your emotions and develop healthier coping mechanisms in a safe, supportive environment. Another form of expressive art therapy is playing musical instruments or revisiting old passions, such as dance or theater. In a group therapy setting, role-playing and dramatic expression help you relate to others, opening up to share experiences and emotions in a supportive environment.

The magic of therapy drawing

Through the creation of art, you’re provided with an alternative means to communicate and process complex feelings, contributing significantly to emotional relief and understanding. One of the most used art therapy techniques for working art therapy for addiction with substance abuse patients is a five-part project called The First Step Series. This activity was developed to guide participants towards recognizing the need for change, and to help them feel empowered about making those changes.

• Art therapy can be powerful in motivating and encouraging people to continue their recovery journey from substance abuse.
• Expressive arts therapy is a multimodal holistic health intervention that mobilizes creative expression in the service of healing both mind and body.
• Art is just one of the powerful tools you can use to improve your recovery journey and prepare to move forward into a life free from substance use.
• While these exercises might not be facilitated by a professional art therapist, many of them were developed and used by art therapists and can still make a difference for the individual seeking release.
• Naumburg believed that children should be allowed creative freedom and that allowing them to pursue subjects that interested them would enable healthy development.

At Sabino Recovery, we offer a upscale addiction treatment experience that incorporates expressive art therapy as part of our comprehensive and integrative program. With a focus on healing both the mind and body, we address the underlying trauma contributing to addiction. The activity uses relaxation, guided imagery, music, and the mindfulness of breathing to create a sense of safety and stability. It could be particularly helpful for clients who are grieving, experiencing stress or anxiety, or in recovery from addiction. In this article, art therapists Gioia Chilton and Rebecca Wilkinson describe how they use mask making while working with people in addiction recovery. I’ve seen clients pick away at the edges of repressed trauma through guided painting projects.

Question About Treatment

• I’ve watched the most introverted clients blossom like May flowers during an improv session.
• Ruth Davey, the founder/director of Look Again has made a short video to give a taste of mindful photography and its benefits.
• Creating a collage of “words to live by” helps these individuals identify who they are and understand the core values they want to live by.
• It’s using art in order to better express yourself or discover certain patterns that you’re engaging in,” said Anna Celander, a licensed clinical therapist and art therapist based in Durham.
• Clients can be encouraged to write expressively but also share poems written by others that have moved them.

Sets You on a Journey of Personal Discovery