What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy involves the use of creative techniques such as drawing, painting, collage, coloring, or sculpting to help people express themselves artistically and examine the psychological and emotional undertones in their art. With the guidance of a credentialed art therapist, clients can "decode" the nonverbal messages, symbols, and metaphors often found in these art forms, which can facilitate a better understanding of their feelings and behavior and initiate the process of healing.
How is Art Therapy different from Art class?
How can Art Therapy help you?
Art therapy is recognized for its many therapeutic effects on aspects of mental, physical, spiritual, and most notably, emotional well-being.
- To provide a means for strengthening the ego
- To provide a cathartic experience
- To provide a means to uncover anger
- To offer an avenue to reduce guilt
- To facilitate impulse control
- To help patients/clients use as a new outlet during incapacitating illness
Doodle
It’s a versatile exercise and a habit that may seem silly on the surface, but has a serious and positive effect on a variety of different aspects of our lives. Sometimes it helps if you have had a hard time focusing on anything or to stop your mind from wandering. Doodling not only helps you remember by helping you focus and store memories properly to begin with, it can also help you to recall things.
- Problem solving and doodling -Doodling helps with different aspects of problem solving. Problem solving requires focus, attention, reflection, recalling learned information, and calmness.
- Doodling and mindfulness - Doodling helps achieve mindfulness. It is easier to hide the fact that you are doodling in a meeting, in class or at work than it is to hide the fact that you are meditating. The other advantage it has is that people are less skeptical of it than meditation; clients don’t like the idea of meditation and some even object to it on religious grounds. Once you get a state of mindfulness with a client you can begin to talk about their experiences and emotions in a more detailed way.
- Doodling and creativity- Doodling can be used to foster creativity. The problem is that a lot of people strongly hold the belief that they are not “the creative type” and creativity as something that’s related to art. Doodling is one way to restart those creative parts of the brain and loosen the grip of that uptight upbringing so many people have to live with.
Zentangle
Zentangle drawings are considered to be a form of “Active Meditation”, and the great thing is, they only take about 15 minutes to do. The Zentangle Method was invented by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas (2003), when they discovered that the act of drawing abstract patterns with the constraint of a few basic rules was extremely meditative.
- Relaxation -Zentangle provides a simplistic and lighthearted way to unwind from the stress of the day. It hones your focus by drawing you away from agitation through subtle, calming and intricate strokes that lead to wholesome beauty.
- Nurture & Develop Creative Abilities-A goal of Zentangle is to free your thoughts in such a way that it ultimately strengthens and empowers your creativity. When you engage in Zentangle drawing, the creative part of your mind may frolic and grow in ways never before thought possible.
- Journaling & Journal Prompting- The freeing aspect of Zentangle is designed to open your mind up to new thoughts, sensations and more. This gives participants new ideas that should be committed to paper. Or you may simply describe how you feel when drawing your delicate tangles and strings.
- Relieve Stress- By focusing on crafting beautiful tangles, the pressures of everyday life are seemingly lifted. Zentangle's enlightening, liberating purpose is designed to ease tension, so be sure to make use of its calming nature whenever you feel the weight of the day bearing down on you.
- Improved Sleep Patterns- The pattern-making beauty of Zentangle reaches deep into multiple aspects of your life.
- Through relaxing focus and creative growth, your mind sorts and processes daily events that help you enjoy a night of deep, replenishing sleep.
- Improve Hand-Eye Coordination- Zentangle is an additive drawing technique that requires focus yet relaxes the overall mind. While anyone can do it, noting the detail and subtle nuances of each stroke help improve hand-eye coordination.
Mandala
The word “mandala” comes from the ancient Sanskrit word signifying “circle.” The meaning of mandalas, however, extends far beyond their simple shape. Mandalas represent the wholeness of life, and the unity that exists among living beings and the world in which we all exist. They play a role within many spiritual traditions, and can be found within a variety of cultures. Mandalas are all around us; they take the form of a pattern that has a circle within a circle.
Examples of Mandalas:
Flowers
Fruit
Tree Rings
Human Cells
Planet Earth
Solar System
Milky Way Galaxy
The very nature of creating a mandala is therapeutic and symbolic. The shapes and colors you create in your mandala art therapy will reflect your inner self at the time of creation. Your instinct and feeling should inspire and guide you through the process of creation. Ultimately, you will be creating a portrait of yourself as you are when creating the mandala. So, whatever you are feeling at that time, whatever emotions are coming through, will be represented in your mandala art therapy.
Mandalas have similar benefits to Zentangles and more!
- Improved Self-Esteem- It feels good to create and watch something beautiful unfold. From beginning to end, witnessing your Zentangle tile bloom forth instills a sense of pride and accomplishment.
- Develop & Rehabilitate- Fine Motor Skills- Just as Zentangle helps build hand-eye coordination in all people, its benefits are particularly effective for those in the process of rebuilding motor skills. Connecting, shading and forming a Zentangle image into a beautiful whole is peaceful yet makes new ties in the mind that can be seen in everyday life.
- Creates Beautiful Art- A Zentangle tile is always beautiful regardless of its simplicity or complexity. You cannot fail at Zentangle. Every tile you create will be gorgeous and help bring forth that creative aspect of the self.
- Team Building & Group Focus- While masterful pieces can be created solo, Zentangle really shines as a group activity. Connecting multiple minds and they connect strokes into wondrous art is a bonding experience.
- Therapy - Zentangle can be used to sort and process life challenges. The increased focus and creativity aspect provide a soothing channel for those with questions, concerns or medical conditions.
- Increases Attention Span & Ability to Concentrate- One of the most important aspects of Zentangle is its ability to hone a person's concentration skills by keeping them engaged in a flowing, blossoming creation. While it ultimately relaxes participants, Zentangle becomes easier and easier over time.
- Anger Management- The first benefit of Zentangle a person comes across is typically relaxation. This is no accident. Individuals suffering from anger issues will find Zentangle to be an outlet through which they may find relief and calmness.
Pick up your brush and start drawing NOW!
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