ART THERAPY HELPS
- Stress
- - Calming physically and mentally
- Life changes/ life events (Divorce, Marriage, Adoption, etc.)
- - Different perspectives
- - Processing in a safe and supportive environment
- Autism Spectrum, Non-verbal learning, Pervasive Developmental, and Learning disorders
- - Sensory stimulation, integration
- - Fine motor and gross motor control practice
- - Nonverbal communication
- - Alternative brain stimulation- new neural pathways created
- - Topics such as the following can be covered in a visual and kinsethetic manner, which can aide in
understanding and subsequent incorporation into daily life
- -- Body language
- -- Facial expressions
- -- Social interactions
- -- Conversation
- -- Executive functing skills
- -- Social cues and expectations, etc.
- -- Body regulation
- Anxiety, Mood, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, and Hoarding
- - Outlet for emotions
- - Build self-esteem through successful art making
- - Structured, nonconfrontational, nonverbal, unintimidating, calming approach
- - Objectively explore thoughts using alternative brain mechanisms
- - Art object as success, productive, tangible product
- Grieving
- - Transition through all the grieving stages supported
- Attention-Deficit Disorders
- - Artwork is calming, immediately gratifying, and focusing
- Behavior disorders
- - Safe and controlled outlet for anger and agressive tendencies
- - Objective exploration of behaviors
- - Build confidence through success
- Attachment disorders
- - Artwork becomes a transitional object to build/change attachments
- Post-Traumatic Stress disorders and Bullying
- - Visual memory rather than verbal memory helps safely access and process traumatic memories
- - Art object or paper provides structure to hold traumatic memories, giving them less power and control
- Rehabilitation (Cardiac, Stroke, Brain Trauma, etc.)
- - Art making is calming in a way that helps the heart heal
- - Master's Thesis research premilinarily demonstrating an improvement in heart rate variability
- - Artwork stimulates the brain
- - Gross and fine motor skill practice
- Gay, lesbian, bi, queer, transgender
- - Art can provide a safe and non-judgmental space to explore sexuality and gender identity