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Overview
Overview
Art therapy is a creative therapy that recent studies have brought awareness to. Art therapy can be seen in many different ways with many techniques. It is done with an art therapist who initiates art interventions. Some art methods used are collaging, mandala making, painting, and using playdough. There are several other ways that art is used to enhance creativity and that are shaped in ways that are catered towards the interests of the patient. Overall, there is a strong trend showing the positive effects that art therapy has on many groups of people. Recently there have been important findings revealed through studies that focus on the effect of art therapy with people with developmental disabilities.
What makes art therapeutic in this way can also be related to how it is something that is taught and used within school. Many kids are already accustomed to art and enjoy it. Epp (2008) and Got & Cheng (2008) both see art as an accessible tool for therapy because children already find enjoyment in art. It is something that they are interested in and is engaging, so they will be willing to put effort into it. There are also many ways that art can be structured to fit the individual needs of each person (Robinson, 2009).
Social Interaction
Social Interaction
One study showed that the participants were seen as having an increase in social interaction and feelings of acceptance. This was observed by stafff members at the camp where the study was done (Beer et al., 2020). The parents’ observations were based on their child’s performance outside of the camp and after it ended, which shows how the benefits can be seen outside of the context of the camp.
Got & Cheng (2008) did a study that also focused on how social interaction, along with behavior, was impacted through the use of art therapy. The two factors that were influenced through this study were social interaction and language comprehension. Through the evaluations that both parents and staff did, they analyzed and found improvement in these two factors (Got & Cheng, 2008).
Communication
Communication
In another study, done by Epp (2008), art therapy was looked at in a group therapy setting. This study focused specifically on 44 children with ASD. The socialization that had improvement was in the children’s ability to assert themselves. What this study brings up is the visualization aspects of art because people with ASD are visual learning and can find it easier to communicate in a visual way (Epp, 2008). If the art they are doing makes it easier for them to communicate, these children may find more comfort in social interaction while doing art and outside of the therapy session. As art provides a way for these children to better express themselves, they may find more confidence in their communication and learn how to express themselves outside of this context. This was shown in the improvement of behavior of these children at the end of the study (Epp, 2008). This study showed how self-expression can be an important part of socialization and behavior. Art is an effective mode of self-expression.
Mental Health/Behavior
Mental Health/Behavior
Self-expression can be directly related to one’s emotions and their behavior. Robinson (2009) takes the idea of how art promotes self-expression and applies it to the mental health people with developmental disabilities. Robinson (2009) brings attention to the fact that people with disabilities have higher rates of depression that also tend to go undiagnosed. This can really affect the function of anyone, with a disability or without. Depression can get in the way of being able to meet one’s full potential in life. This can be even more detrimental when a person cannot communicate about their mental health and express their feelings so that others can help them cope. This can be reflected in the behaviors that one displays. Focus then goes to behavior treatment instead of mental health. This creates an overall lack of knowledge and teaching, to this population, around coping mechanism for their emotions (Robinson, 2009). This shows that mental health can be a big factor in behavioral issues. Art therapy addresses this by giving people an outlet to communicate their feelings and thoughts (Robinson, 2009). It is an opportunity to release what has been bothering them in a productive manner that is not problematic or dangerous. As they develop this coping mechanism, it can be applied throughout their life. Feeling more mentally stable can make a person feel better about themselves and the world around them. This can be one of the main reasons we see a shift in people after they have learned how to use art in this therapeutic manner.
Local Resource
Local Resource
Here is a link with 100 exercises that can be done at home to help facilitate the benefits that art therapy has to offer. It may not have the same benefits or efficacy as going to an art therapist may but it is can help in very similair ways.
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