Lessons & Benefits of Working with Art Materials

I don’t know how many times I’ve received a deer-in-the-headlights look when I tell people that I’m an art therapist. “You’re a what?” “What do you do?” For those who don’t know what art therapy is and have never experienced the healing properties of art therapy, I want to share just a handful of the benefits and lessons of working with art materials.

It is important to keep in mind that the creative experience is not about artistic ability. Everyone is creative in some form or fashion. Some people like to cook, others like to work with their hands, write, or focus on the numbers. Wherever they feel that their strength lies is their form of creativity and it is within them and a part of them. That knowledge takes precedence and can be incorporated into other creative endeavors. Also, it’s important to remember that the creative experience is not about producing a masterpiece, it’s about what is observed and realized during the process itself.

The benefits of creating art are numerous! Working with art materials can elevate mood and energy. It can be a form of meditation, especially for those who struggle to quiet their minds in traditional meditation practices, and art-making is absolutely a practice in mindfulness.

With the willingness to give it a try, a person can discover that they are capable of accomplishing something they didn’t think was possible. Confidence is boosted and a greater sense of well-being is achieved. The creative process can also be relaxing, fulfilling, releasing, and incredibly fun.

Art therapy is not just about creating with art materials, a person can observe a lot about themselves through the process and enhance their self-awareness. Therapeutic modalities are incorporated into every directive. A directive is art therapy lingo for project, instructions, the overall theme of each session. Directives are focused on a multitude of creative methods and techniques and always incorporate therapeutic principles such as acceptance, patience, transformation, facing the resistance, and perseverance through anxiety and frustration.

Remarkably, each time a decision is made or a principle is integrated when creating art, the basis of that thought directly correlates with a therapeutic concept and/or outcome. When creating art in a group setting, participants can learn more about each other and become supportive and connected, forming deeper bonds.

When a person is engaged in the creative process, they are using both sides of their brains. The left brain -- the analytical, logical, factual side -- drives decision-making and discernment, quantitative. The right brain -- the creative, intuitive side – taps into the imagination and emotions, qualitative.

There are many more advantages of working with art materials and the creative process itself, I’ve just touched on a few of them. I've provided more benefits, backed by research, to include: coping mechanisms, emotional regulation, trauma recovery, boundaries, and brain neuroplasticity, see below.

Of course, many of these benefits and lessons can be attained through other approaches and methods. I encourage everyone to have the willingness to explore them and just give it a try. One never knows until they do!

Natalie Wilkins, MA, CSArT, CAS, CCTP

Art Therapy Helps Establish Healthy Coping Mechanisms

Art therapy has been shown to be an effective and healthy coping mechanism for various populations, offering benefits in psychological well-being, emotional processing, and overall quality of life.

Research indicates that art therapy can serve as a change mechanism and coping tool for individuals with mental illness, encouraging the development of flexible and adaptable approaches to overcoming barriers in their recovery process (Lith, 2015). For cancer patients, art therapy has been found to improve coping with emotions, promote conscious living, and enhance overall quality of life (Visser & Hoog, 2008). The creative arts therapies, including art therapy, have demonstrated evidence-based findings in regulating and processing emotions, stress relief, and addressing depressive symptoms and grief (Orkibi & Keisari, 2023).

While art therapy shows promise as a healthy coping mechanism, some studies suggest that its effects may decline over time. For instance, a reminiscence therapy study found that while the intervention initially improved coping strategies, the effects diminished after three months (Satorres et al., 2017). This highlights the potential need for ongoing or follow-up interventions to maintain the benefits of art therapy as a coping mechanism.

Art therapy can be utilized as a valuable and healthy coping mechanism, offering a range of psychological and emotional benefits. Its ability to facilitate emotion processing, self-expression, and communication makes it particularly effective for individuals coping with various health conditions and mental health challenges (Czamanski-Cohen & Weihs, 2023; Kim, 2012; Wilkinson & Chilton, 2013). However, further research is needed to explore the long-term effects and optimal implementation of art therapy interventions to maximize their potential as a sustainable coping mechanism.

Art Therapy Supports Emotional Regulation

Art therapy has been shown to be an effective tool for supporting emotional regulation across various populations and contexts. Studies have demonstrated that engaging in artistic activities can lead to positive mood enhancement and improved mental health outcomes (Gruber & Oepen, 2017; Shukla et al., 2022). The process of creating art allows individuals to express themselves more freely, potentially aiding in the regulation of emotions and improving overall mental well-being (Shukla et al., 2022).

The effectiveness of art therapy in emotion regulation extends beyond traditional settings. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising medium for facilitating the transition from negative to positive emotional experiences, offering new possibilities for emotion regulation interventions (Wagener et al., 2023). Additionally, the Self-Expression Emotion Regulation in Art Therapy Scale (SERATS) has been developed and validated as a tool to monitor the specific effects of art therapy on emotion regulation, showing high reliability and convergent validity (Haeyen & Noorthoorn, 2021).

Art therapy appears to be a valuable approach for supporting emotional regulation. It offers a unique way for individuals to process and express emotions, potentially leading to improved mental health outcomes. The development of specialized tools like SERATS and the exploration of new technologies like VR suggest that the field of art therapy continues to evolve, offering increasingly effective methods for emotion regulation (Gruber & Oepen, 2017; Haeyen & Noorthoorn, 2021; Wagener et al., 2023). Future research should focus on investigating specific active factors in art therapy and their impact on emotion regulation processes.

Art Therapy Helps People Recover from Trauma

Art therapy has been shown to be an effective method for helping individuals recover from trauma, particularly for children and adolescents. It provides a safe outlet for expressing thoughts and emotions, facilitating recovery from psychological distress (Eaton et al., 2007). The creative process encourages personal growth and alleviates symptoms of mental illness, with art therapy programs demonstrating improvements in anxiety and self-concept for refugee adolescents (Rowe et al., 2016).

Art therapy approaches often discourage repetitive disclosure about the history of abuse, instead focusing on holistic, integrative, and alternative healing approaches such as creative visualization (Allen & Wozniak, 2010). This aligns with the understanding that traumatic memories are often stored in non-verbal parts of the brain, making creative arts therapies particularly effective in overcoming the limitations of purely verbal treatments (Harris, 2009). The Art Therapy Trauma Protocol (ATTP) specifically addresses the non-verbal core of traumatic memory, integrating cognitive, emotional, and physiological levels of trauma (Talwar, 2006).

Art therapy offers a unique and powerful approach to trauma recovery by providing non-linguistic communication channels, allowing individuals to express and process their experiences in ways that verbal therapy alone may not achieve. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated across various contexts, from refugee populations to domestic violence survivors, making it a valuable tool in the treatment of trauma-related mental health issues (Allen & Wozniak, 2010; Eaton et al., 2007; Rowe et al., 2016).

Art Therapy Helps Identify and Define Boundaries

Art therapy can be an effective tool for identifying and defining boundaries in therapeutic settings. Through creative expression, individuals can explore and establish personal boundaries, leading to improved mental health and interpersonal relationships (Shukla et al., 2022).

The concept of permeable boundaries in art therapy, as described by Kohut, can facilitate a treatment characterized by unusual depth, intimacy, and healing. This approach allows for a more fluid exchange between therapist and client, potentially leading to heightened affective moments, internalization, corrective emotional experiences, and the repair of disruptions in the therapeutic relationship (Geist & Nocek, 2024). However, it's important to note that while permeable boundaries can be beneficial, they must be carefully managed to maintain appropriate therapeutic boundaries.

Art therapy provides a unique avenue for exploring and defining boundaries, both personal and interpersonal. The creative process allows individuals to express and understand their limits and needs in a non-verbal manner, which can be particularly helpful for those who struggle with verbal communication or have experienced trauma (Rowe et al., 2016; Schweizer et al., 2017). As the field of art therapy continues to evolve, including the integration of digital technologies (Du et al., 2023; Kim & Chung, 2023), it offers promising opportunities for further exploration of boundaries in therapeutic settings.

Art Therapy Helps Develop Brain Neuroplasticity

Art therapy has shown promise in promoting neuroplasticity and aiding in the rehabilitation of individuals with neurological disorders. While the provided context does not specifically mention art therapy, connections can be made between the principles of neuroplasticity and rehabilitation discussed in the papers to understand how art therapy might contribute to neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganize and adapt, plays a crucial role in the recovery from brain injuries and neurological disorders (Kumar et al., 2023; Zotey et al., 2023).

Various interventions, including cognitive training, physical activity, and non-invasive brain stimulation, have been found to enhance neuroplasticity and improve motor, cognitive, and sensory functions (Kumar et al., 2023). Art therapy, as a form of cognitive and sensory stimulation, could potentially engage similar mechanisms to promote neuroplasticity. The concept of an enriched environment has been shown to promote increased neuroplasticity and aid in stroke recovery (Han et al., 2023). Art therapy could be considered a form of environmental enrichment, providing diverse sensory and cognitive stimuli that may contribute to synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and angiogenesis.

While art therapy is not explicitly mentioned in the provided context, the principles of neuroplasticity and rehabilitation discussed suggest that it could be a valuable tool in promoting brain plasticity. Art therapy may engage multiple sensory and cognitive processes, potentially stimulating neuroplastic changes in the brain. However, further research specifically focusing on the effects of art therapy on neuroplasticity is necessary to draw definitive conclusions.

Coping Mechanism

Czamanski-Cohen, J., & Weihs, K. L. (2023). The role of emotion processing in art therapy (REPAT) intervention protocol. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1208901

Van Lith, T. (2015). Art Making as a Mental Health Recovery Tool for Change and Coping. Art Therapy, 32(1), 5–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2015.992826

Kim, S. K. (2012). A randomized, controlled study of the effects of art therapy on older Korean-Americans’ healthy aging. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 40(1), 158–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2012.11.002

Wilkinson, R. A., & Chilton, G. (2013). Positive Art Therapy: Linking Positive Psychology to Art Therapy Theory, Practice, and Research. Art Therapy, 30(1), 4–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2013.757513

Orkibi, H., & Keisari, S. (2023). Creative Arts Therapies (pp. 411–433). cambridge university. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009031240.027

Satorres, E., Viguer, P., Fortuna, F. B., & Meléndez, J. C. (2017). Effectiveness of instrumental reminiscence intervention on improving coping in healthy older adults. Stress and Health, 34(2), 227–234. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2776

Visser, A., & Hoog, M. O.’T. (2008). Education of creative art therapy to cancer patients: Evaluation and effects. Journal of Cancer Education, 23(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/08858190701821204

Emotional Regulation

Gruber, H., & Oepen, R. (2017). Emotion regulation strategies and effects in art-making: A narrative synthesis. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 59, 65–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2017.12.006

Shukla, A., Quazi Syed, Z., Gaidhane, A. M., & Choudhari, S. G. (2022). Role of Art Therapy in the Promotion of Mental Health: A Critical Review. Cureus, 14(8). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.28026

Wagener, N., Rogers, Y., Schoning, J., & Niess, J. (2023). Letting It Go: Four Design Concepts to Support Emotion Regulation in Virtual Reality. 52, 763–764. https://doi.org/10.1109/vrw58643.2023.00224

Haeyen, S., & Noorthoorn, E. (2021). Validity of the Self-Expression and Emotion Regulation in Art Therapy Scale (SERATS). In PloS one (Vol. 16, Issue 3, p. e0248315). Public Library of Science. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248315

Trauma

Eaton, L. G., Doherty, K. L., & Widrick, R. M. (2007). A review of research and methods used to establish art therapy as an effective treatment method for traumatized children. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 34(3), 256–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2007.03.001

Rowe, C., Eng, E., Watson-Ormond, R., Agnew-Brune, C., Amolegbe, A., Marshall, A., Linton, K., Rubesin, H., & English, L. (2016). Evaluating Art Therapy to Heal the Effects of Trauma Among Refugee Youth: The Burma Art Therapy Program Evaluation. Health Promotion Practice, 18(1), 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839915626413

Allen, K. N., & Wozniak, D. F. (2010). The Language of Healing: Women’s Voices in Healing and Recovering from Domestic Violence. Social Work in Mental Health, 9(1), 37–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2010.494540

Harris, D. A. (2009). The paradox of expressing speechless terror: Ritual liminality in the creative arts therapies’ treatment of posttraumatic distress. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 36(2), 94–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2009.01.006

Talwar, S. (2006). Accessing traumatic memory through art making: An art therapy trauma protocol (ATTP). The Arts in Psychotherapy, 34(1), 22–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2006.09.001

Boundaries

Shukla, A., Gaidhane, A. M., Quazi Syed, Z., & Choudhari, S. G. (2022). Role of Art Therapy in the Promotion of Mental Health: A Critical Review. Cureus, 14(8). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.28026

Geist, R. A., & Nocek, M. (2024). Permeable boundaries: Therapeutic benefits. Psychoanalysis, Self and Context, 19(4), 409–420. https://doi.org/10.1080/24720038.2024.2353294

Du, X., An, P., Leung, J., Li, A., Chapman, L. E., & Zhao, J. (2023). DeepThInk: Designing and probing human-AI co-creation in digital art therapy. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 181, 103139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2023.103139

Rowe, C., Eng, E., Watson-Ormond, R., Agnew-Brune, C., Amolegbe, A., Marshall, A., Linton, K., Rubesin, H., & English, L. (2016). Evaluating Art Therapy to Heal the Effects of Trauma Among Refugee Youth: The Burma Art Therapy Program Evaluation. Health Promotion Practice, 18(1), 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839915626413

Schweizer, C., Spreen, M., & Knorth, E. J. (2017). Exploring What Works in Art Therapy With Children With Autism: Tacit Knowledge of Art Therapists. Art Therapy, 34(4), 183–191. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2017.1392760

Neuroplasticity

Kumar, J., Syed, A. R. S., Kumar, U., Sugandh, F., Kachhadia, M. P., Puri, P., Zaman, M. U., Varrassi, G., Kumar, S., Patel, T., Adeeb, M., Dev, J., & Prachi, F. (2023). Innovative Approaches and Therapies to Enhance Neuroplasticity and Promote Recovery in Patients with Neurological Disorders: A Narrative Review. Cureus, 15(7). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.41914

Han, P.-P., Bi, X., Shen, X.-Y., Han, Y., & Gao, Z.-K. (2023). Enriched environment-induced neuroplasticity in ischemic stroke and its underlying mechanisms. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2023.1210361

Zotey, V., Juganavar, A., Andhale, A., & Shegekar, T. (2023). Adaptive Neuroplasticity in Brain Injury Recovery: Strategies and Insights. Cureus, 15(9). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.45873