Dr. Donna Betts, research director of the Art Therapy program at George Washington University and Past President of The American Art Therapy Association, goes more in depth on Art Therapy and how it is beneficial to those on the Autism spectrum.
art therapy
Making And Viewing Art Provides Therapeutic Mental Health Benefits
Art therapy
Creative expression is one of the keys to strengthening mental health, according to a scientific study which was published in The American Journal of Public Health. Art therapy helps people to understand their own emotions and actions and gives them the power to resolve deep-seated issues. There are many ways to express oneself through art, from watching or making films to painting to viewing art and feeling its effects and beyond. Art therapy is a viable treatment option for those who need help to enhance their mental health and well-being.
Movies revitalize the brain and boost relaxation
A new form of mental health therapy known as “film therapy” is utilized to enhance abilities and competencies, based on information from Exploringyourmind.com. Two researchers, Burque and Hodgson, implement positive psychology and coaching to help people access the therapeutic benefits of viewing movies. The sense of identification that people have with film characters, along with the intensity, duration and educational properties of movies, are factors which help people to relax, disconnect and revitalize. Films and film-related media, including print ads for movies, such as posters, or movie trailers, may also be used to assist people with facing their fears and focusing on key issues in their lives.
Painting clears the mind of repetitive thoughts
Painting is an enjoyable and fulfilling way to ease stress, foster creative thought and enhance the plasticity of the brain. Picking up a palette is an ideal way to focus the mind on art and clear away repetitive thoughts. Most people have sixty thousand thoughts every day and ninety-five percent of these thoughts are thoughts that they have regularly. Becoming immersed in painting gives the mind a break from the same old thoughts and puts the brain into a “flow state” which promotes mental calmness and clarity. Painting is a meditative escape from the daily grind.
Turn experiences and ideas into art
Art may be used to tell stories…and everyone has a story. By turning experiences into art, people may experience catharsis which is good for their mental health. Turning experiences and ideas into art is an effective way to explore feelings, manage stress and find solutions to conflicts and problems. Feelings and thoughts which are expressed through the creation of art may be hard to articulate in other ways.
View art and feel its effects
Making art is an option, but viewing art is also therapeutic. An art historian and a group of neuroscientists have found that people who view art experience heightened activity in the primary motor cortexes of their brains. For example, someone who views one of Degas’ ballerina paintings may feel a sense that he or she is dancing, right along with the female in the painting. The transformative power of viewing art and feeling its effects is real, so a leisurely stroll through an art gallery may be the best way to change a mindset in no time flat.
Art therapy really works
Art stimulates the mind and helps people to look inward and learn new things about themselves. Whether a person makes art or views art, he or she will be affected by it in ways that may boost mental health. Anyone who wishes to enhance mental stability is therefore encouraged to make art a part of his or her life.
Art Therapy for Children with Autism
Art Therapy for Autism
Art Therapy for Children with Autism Pamela Ullmann, MS, ATR-BC, LCAT, CCLS © 2009 Pamela Ullmann
Pamela Ullmann has been a practicing art therapist since 1996. In that time she has worked with a variety of populations. She was instrumental in developing an art therapy program in Manhattan in 2003 and supervised 15 School of Visual Art students within a 5 year period. After developing Colors of Play, LLC, Pamela continued to work as clinical director of a non-profit music and art therapy organization in Westchester for children with Autism and other developmental disorders. Currently, and in addition to Colors of Play clients, Pamela is the program coordinator for the Medical Home for Autism at the Institute for Child Development at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center.
You can seeher presentation on art therapy here.
Autism – how art therapy can help children on the autism spectrum
Art therapy for people on the autism spectrum
Autism – how art therapy can help children on the autism spectrum
You may also be interested in using music therapy for autism.
Mental Illness, Addiction, and the Importance of Treatment
Mental health and addiction
It is not uncommon for mental illness and addiction to occur simultaneously. Of course, this also means that treatment for both becomes even more critical. If you or a loved one is suffering from a mental illness, you may be at risk for addiction and vice versa. It is important that you understand both the risks of your illness and the effects of treatment, as well as where you should begin tackling your problems. Here are a few things to know if you have either an addiction or a mental illness.
Many People with Mental Health Problems Experience Addiction
Though the Western world is becoming more accepting and aware of mental health concerns, many people still struggle with getting mental health care. Many people have limited education on mental health or simply cannot afford care. These difficulties too often result in self-medication.
Self-medication describes the actions of a person who has a physical or mental illness and attempts to treat their symptoms with addictive substances. Alcohol is a legal substance that is commonly used as a means to self-medicate.
As a depressant, alcohol makes mental processes slower, which may make thoughts or anxieties seem easier to cope with. For example, a person with anxiety may find that alcohol slows their racing thoughts and eliminates the persistent knot of worry in their stomachs. With alcohol’s social acceptability, it is all too easy to unintentionally become addicted.
Many People with Addictions will Develop Mental Health Problems
Addiction is considered a mental illness. However, it can also cause the symptoms of other common mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety. Unlike other mental illnesses, a substance-induced mental illness can be treated and potentially resolved with sobriety and therapy. If the substance abuse continues, the symptoms of mental illness will only become worse as time goes on. Treatment should be found as soon as possible in order to prevent or reverse the effects of an addiction.
There Are Many Forms of Effective Treatment
While many treatments will focus on only a mental illness or only a mental addiction, there are also options that tackle both issues. Talk therapy, art therapy, and exercise therapy are all valid options that can work to smooth your road to recovery as well as handle any mental health concerns. You may also opt to treat each condition separately.
To find a good treatment plan, seek the advice of a counselor who specializes in addiction and mental health. They may be the ones to treat you or they may refer you to a successful program. The most important thing you can do is seek help as soon as you recognize a problem. The earlier your treatment, the easier it will be for life to return to normal.
Recognizing that you or a loved one may have an addiction or a mental illness can be a frightening revelation. However, you should remember that by catching the problem, treatment can begin to take place and things can only get better as you continue to work through treatment with a qualified provider. Whether the problem is self-medication or a substance abuse issue, there is a treatment out there that will make your better.